2017 ICTSI Splendido Ladies Classic: Del Rosario wavers but pulls away by 8

With a huge lead, Pau del Rosario looks headed to another LPGT victory.

TAGAYTAY – Not even an off day off the mound could stymie Pauline del Rosario’s drive for a fourth Ladies Philippine Golf Tour championship.

Del Rosario struggled with her long game and hobbled with a 73 but still doubled her four-stroke lead over Chihiro Ikeda as the rest fumbled in the windy second round of the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Classic at Taal Splendido Golf Club here yesterday.

With caddie-dad Bong del Rosario showing her the direction, Pau del Rosario could be on her way to a fourth LPGT championship at Splendido.

Two bogeys in the first four holes failed to unsettle Del Rosario as she struck back with two birdies linking both nines then after hitting an errant drive on No. 14 for a double bogey, she made up with a birdie on the par-3 17th for a 37-36 card.

Counting her opening 68, Del Rosario pooled a three-under 141 and looked headed to surpassing her huge seven-stroke romp over Princess Superal and Thai Tirana Yoopan at Pradera Verde last August in the 54-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI as her rivals failed to mount any challenge in tough condition.

Ikeda, winner at Forest Hills last month who rallied with a backside 32 to save a 72 Tuesday, never recovered from a bogey-bogey start, finishing with a 77 marred by a double bogey on No. 11 for a 149.

Chihiro Ikeda and Cyna Rodriguez will have to dish out their A-games and hope for the Pau del Rosario meltdown to get a crack at the LPGT Splendido crown.

Cyna Rodriguez, the former three-time LPGT Order of Merit winner, rallied from six down to within three with back-to-back birdies from No. 10. But the LPGA Tour veteran dropped five strokes in a four-hole stretch from No. 13 and ended up with a 76.

She stayed at third at 150 in a tie with Thai Chonlada Chayanun, who fought back from an opening 40 to card a 75, while Princess Superal turned in the day’s best score of 72 but still lay 11 strokes off Del Rosario heading to the final 18 holes of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I still struggled with my driver and hope to correct those mistakes by playing smarter tomorrow (today),” said Del Rosario, hoping to reach peak form in time for the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters at The Country Club in two weeks time.

“Though I’m up by eight, I still have to play my best,” she added.

Korean Euna Koh, winner at Luisita last April, shot a 75 for joint sixth at 153 with Wannasiri Sirisampant of Thailand, a playoff loser to Ikeda at Forest Hills who fired two birdies at the back to salvage a 74.

Gretchen Villacencio skied to a 78 for a 154 while Thais Ananya Vitayakonkomol and Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro assembled 156 and 157 after a 78 and 75, respectively, in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.