Del Rosario climbs to joint 9th

MANILA, Philippines — Pauline del Rosario heated up with a 69 yesterday, countering Mikha Fortuna’s cooled-off 73 as the Epson Tour veteran set her sights on capturing a second LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) championship at the Party Golfers Ladies Open in Hsinchu County in Taiwan.

But defending champion Ling-Jie Chen made it clear she was not surrendering her title easily, her eagle-spiked 67, capped by closing back-to-back birdies, placed her in a tie with Thailand’s Nook Sukapan at nine-under 135.

Sukapan, keeping her scorecard bogey-free, posted a solid 68, highlighted by two birdies in her last five holes, giving her and Chen a one-stroke lead over PK Kongkraphan heading into the final round of the NT$5 million championship.

For the Philippines, Del Rosario emerged as the team’s torchbearer. Starting the day at joint 23rd, she climbed to a share of ninth place with a four-under 140, thanks to three birdies in her first seven holes.

Fortuna, who began the day at eighth spot, slid to joint 32nd after struggling with a bogey-laden 75.

Chanelle Avaricio posted a 73 to drop to 39th at 145, while Florence Bisera and Mafy Singson matched par-72s and Jiwon Lee shot a 73 as the troika narrowly maded the Top 50 and ties cut with 146s.