MANILA, Philippines – Pauline del Rosario finds herself in the same blend of excitement and pressure as the rest of the 104 LPGA hopefuls as she steps onto the first mound of the RTJ Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Alabama Thursday (Friday Manila time).
Despite this being her first Q-Series appearance, the 25-year-old Epson Tour campaigner is keen on taking on a formidable roster of bidders from all over, stressing the importance of approaching the competition one day at a time throughout the grueling six-round tournament.
“Since this is my first time to play in the Q-Series, I will be taking it one day at a time,” said del Rosario. “Six days is a lot of golf and anything can happen. But I have all the intent to have status on the LPGA. I will see this week if my game has what it takes.”
Unfazed by the depth of the field, which includes former LPGA Tour winners, US Solheim Cup team members and collegiate standouts, del Rosario remains focused on tackling the challenges presented by the Crossings (par-72) and Falls (par-71) courses.
Backed by ICTSI, she expresses determination to secure LPGA status.
Poised to making the Top 5 in the LPGA Q-School State II last October, del Rosario floundered with a 77 in the final round and barely made the grade at joint 25th.
But she has since refined her skills through rigorous practice and training and vied in a tournament in Taiwan where she posted a joint sixth place finish, making her A-ready for this week’s competition.
“I think I had a good few weeks leading up to the Q-Series. I was able to practice back home and play a tournament in Taiwan before coming here,” said del Rosario, who turned pro in 2017 and captured the Order of Merit title on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with four leg victories. She also became the first Filipina to win on the lucrative LPGA of Taiwan Tour (TLPGA) when she rallied from six down in the final round and snared the TLPGA and Royal Open crown, also in 2017.
“I prepared to the best of my ability coming into this week,” she said.
While she acknowledges the tough competition, del Rosario also braces for adverse weather conditions, anticipating cold and rainy days during the tournament,
“It’s been cold here recently with forecast of rains in the first three days and cold weather in the next three,” she said. “The courses are playing long because it rained the past few weeks. Sabi nila, fall is more challenging but I think the scores this week will tell.”
Meanwhile, del Rosario slugs it out with Americans Lauren Hartlage and Kaitlyn Budde in the 7:41 a.m. flight. The other Filipina bidders are two-time Epson Tour winner Clariss Guce, who tees off at 8:25 a.m. with Thai Trichat Cheenglab and Aussie Robyn Choi, and Dottie Ardina, also a former Epson Tour titlist, who clashes with Chinese Shuangshuan Fan and Gurleen Kaur of the US at 10:15 a.m.
The Top 45 finishers and ties after six rounds will earn LPGA cards for next year. The Top 20 and ties will play out of Category 14 while the rest of those earning LPGA membership will play out of Category 15.
Those finishing outside the Top 45 and ties will settle for Epson Tour status.
After four rounds, there will be a cut although the LPGA hasn’t formally announced how many players will advance to the final two rounds.
The Q-Series used to be an eight-round elims played over two weeks at two different courses.