Del Rosario rules Taiwan Royal Open, banks P2M

Barely five months since turning pro, Pauline del Rosario is now a certified millionaire.

And she’s just 18 years old.

Del Rosario banked 1.2 million Taiwanese dollars (about P2.035 million) after ruling the TLPGA & Royal Open with a closing six-under-par 66 Sunday at Royal Kuan-Hsi Golf Club in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

Counting her earlier rounds of 70-68, Del Rosario posted a 204 aggregate, besting Chen Yu-ju of Taiwan by one stroke.
Chen shot a 68 to go with a 67 and 70 earlier.

It was Del Rosario’s fourth win since turning professional last March, posting her first three victories in the Philippine Ladies Professional Golf Tour.

She flew to Taiwan the day after winning the Pradera Ladies Classic last week at Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga, where she thwarted compatriot Princess Superal and Thai Tirapan Yoopan by seven strokes.

Thai Soopimjit Dussavi, winner of the Singha-SAT Toyota Championship Circuit 6 last month in Malaysia, placed third following a second straight 67 and a 206 total.

Second-round leader Yu-Sang Hou, also of Taiwan, tumbled with a 76 and settled for fourth place at 207. Thai Wirairungrueng Ploychompoo placed fifth following a 68-210. —ROY LUARCA