Del Rosario hangs on to share of lead

PAULINE del Rosario and Thai Paphangkorn Tavatanakit finished with 69s to set up a final-round shootout for the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open at Phoenix Golf Club in Pattaya, Thailand late Thursday.

Del Rosario actually surged ahead with a four-under card heading to the uphill, 405-yard par-4 No. 9, but missed the green, chipped to within six feet and missed the putt to settle for a three-under card and a share of the lead with the local ace at 139.

“It could’ve been a big cushion had Pau knocked that par putt on the last hole,” said Team The Country Club coach Bong Lopez.

Princess Superal stumbled with a second straight 74 to bow out of the title race at 148. Another Thai, Atthaya Thitikul, was a far third at 144 while Sofia Chabon hardly improved with a 75 after a 78 for a 153.

With Superal still groping for form, Team TCC fell short of its final round rally in the 36-hole team competition, settling for second with a 287 aggregate after a 143.

Thailand-A, led by Tavatanakit, also carded a 143 and won by one with a 286.