Pauline del Rosario shot a day-best five-under, eagle-spiked 67 to wheel back into contention in the Singha Thailand Junior World Championship at Royal Huahin Golf Course late Friday.
Del Rosario, seeking a follow-up to her one-stroke victory in the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open in Pattaya last week, got her rhythm back and gunned down four birdies inside seven feet in the first 15 holes to negate a bogey on No. 9 and rebound from an opening 78.
Sustaining the momentum, the 17-year-old 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 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.
Del Rosario was four shots off Hsuan Chen of Chinese-Taipei, who shot a 73 for a 141, but the De La Salle-Zobel standout gets propped up heading to the weekend play of the 72-hole championship.
Chen landed 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.