Steady Del Rosario seizes Pradera Verde crown by seven shots

Pauline del Rosario thwarted Princess Superal’s early challenge and bucked gusty winds wind to shoot a 71 and rule the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic at Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga, Thursday.

Three strokes up at tee-off, Del Rosario had a bogey against Superal’s birdie on No. 4 but recovered in time, pouncing on Superal’s backside meltdown with back-to-back birdies from No. 15 en route to a seven-shot romp over Superal and Thai Tirapan Yoopan.

Del Rosario’s closing one-under card gave her a 54-hole total of 209 worth P150,000.

The ploy worked as Del Rosario rebounded from a 37 start and secured her third victory in her rookie year after dominating the Orchard and Baguio stops of the circuit.

Superal failed to sustain her charge, bogeying No. 6 then lagged farther behind with another bogey on No. 14 before yielding the chase with double-bogey on the par-3 15th.

Superal wound up with a 75 for a 214 and settled for joint second with Yoopan, who double-bogeyed the 18th for a 74.
Cyna Rodriguez also fired 71 to claim fourth place at 215. —ROY LUARCA