Pauline bounces back with 65
Eager to rebound from her worst WAPT (Women’s All Pro Tour) finish the last time out, Pauline del Rosario stormed into a share of the lead with a near-impeccable seven-under 65 at the start of the weather-delayed Natchez Golf Classic in Missouri Tuesday.
The rising Filipina star, flaunting superb ball control all day, rattled off four birdies in a solid backside start at the Beau Pre Country Club in Natchez and matched that binge at the front but missed wresting the solo lead with a last-hole mishap on the ninth. Still, her 33-32 card proved enough to net her a lead share with Mexico’s Ana Valdes, who likewise hit eight birdies against a bogey, as they stood two shots clear of the troika of Paraguay’s Sofia Garcia, and Americans Gabriella Then and Maggie Ashmore, who turned in identical 67s in a day interrupted by delays due to lightning threat. The ICTSI-backed shotmaker’s explosive start also came after she turned in a joint 27th place finish in the Texarkana Children’s Charitites Open in Arkansas last week, her worst effort in six WAPT events marked by a victory in the Arkansas Open and four Top 10 finishes.
It also put her back on track for a crack at the No. 1 in the Race to (LPGA) Stage II with two tournaments left in the current WAPT circuit. The top five will earn automatic berths in the second stage of the LPGA Q-School slated in October in Florida. The top two this week will also gain berths in Symetra Tour’s Firekeeper Casino Championship slated 6 to 8 August in Battle Creek in Michigan.
I was just in control of my shots today.
Del Rosario actually took the top spot last month but slipped back to second although her impressive 65, coupled with frontrunner Jessica Porvasnik’s 72, gave her some sort of a push in the race for top WAPT honors.
“I was just in control of my shots today,” said Del Rosario, whose solid iron play set up a number of birdie chances, the farthest just from 12 feet. She finished with 27 putts.
She, however, muffed a six-foot par putt on the ninth.
Meanwhile, Abby Arevalo, who scored a pro breakthrough in big fashion in the Cactus Tour last month, overcame a two-bogey game at the back with three straight birdies from No. 3, saving a 71 for joint 20th.