Del Rosario fights back with 67, trails by 4

MANILA, Philippines - Pauline del Rosario rebounded from a so-so opening 78 with a day-best five-under, eagle-spiked 67, wheeling back into contention halfway through the Singha Thailand Junior World Championship at the Royal Huahin Golf Course in Thailand late Friday.

Del Rosario, seeking a follow-up to her hard-earned one-stroke victory in the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open in Pattaya last week, got her rhythm and confidence back and gunned down four birdies inside seven feet in the first 15 holes to negate a bogey mishap on No. 9.

Sustaining the momentum, the 17-year-old top The Country Club bet hit a solid drive on the par-4 17th then knocked down a superb 9-iron shot from 130 yards that bounced once and rolled into the cup for the eagle that capped her sizzling 35-32 card in the premier Class A division,

“Pau could’ve closed in further if not for a couple of missed birdie chances at the frontside. But she has gotten back her form and hopefully, she gets better in the last two rounds,” said TCC coach Nestor Mendoza.

She remained four shots off Hsuan Chen of Chinese-Taipei with a 36-hole 145 but her 67 could set the stage for a big comeback by the De La Salle-Zobel standout heading to the weekend play of the 72-hole championship which drew some of the region’s leading junior players.

Chen struggled with a 73 after a 68 but remained on top with a 141, three shots ahead of Japanese Kanon Yamazaki, who carded a 70 for a 144.

Sam Martirez, the other TCC bet in the fold, bogeyed No. 3 but closed out with a birdie to salvage a 72 and a 147, six strokes behind the Taiwanese.

Meanwhile, national team mainstay Yuka Saso floundered with a 74 and fell behind by six in the Class B side with a 146 as Thai Atthaya Thitkul fired a 69 to pull away at 140 heading to the final 36 holes.