Del Rosario Lady to beat at Caliraya

Pauline del Rosario takes her international-caliber game next week to Cavinti. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Ladies Philippine Golf Tour welcomes back one of its most dominant stars—even for a brief stint—this week as Pauline del Rosario banners a lean field chasing honors in the P1 million ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship in Cavinti, Laguna.

On a three-week break from the Epson Tour in the United States, the farm tour of the LPGA, Del Rosario brings star power—and serious game—to the 54-hole championship teeing off on Tuesday as she makes it no secret that she is here to sharpen her weapons before returning stateside.

“I have no expectations, but I hope to play well,” Del Rosario, who won four times in her rookie year in 2017 on the way to the Order of Merit (OOM) title, said.

Tough week

Del Rosario’s best finish in the US is a 12th-place tie in last year’s Four Winds Invitational in Indiana. After her stint at Caliraya, she will head back to the Epson Tour to campaign in the Copper Rock Championship from April 27 in Utah where compatriot Dottie Ardina defends.

She expects a tough week with the challenge coming from the likes of Bacolod leg champion Chanelle Avaricio, reigning OOM winner Chihiro Ikeda, Harmie Constantino and Daniella Uy.

Crack amateur Rianne Malixi won’t be around this time, though national team standouts Lois Kaye Go and Mafy Singson will be seeing action and loom as big threats.

A crack five-player Korean crew made up of Jane Jeong, Kim Seoyun, Kim Minyeong, Yang Juyoung and Hua Nam Eun, is also out to spoil the locals’ bid in the event.