Del Rosario, Rodriguez gain US slots

MANILA, Philippines - Pauline del Rosario shot an eagle-spiked four-under 68 to top the US Girls Qualifier at the Stallion Golf Club in Las Vegas while ICTSI teammates Cyna Rodriguez and Princess Superal made the grade for the US Women’s Amateur in Washington Tuesday.

Del Rosario hit four birdies and made an eagle on No. 6 to negate her bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11 for a 68 as she came away with a six-stroke romp over Shanon Oh of California and Alexandra Kaui of Nevada, who both carded 74s, in their own side of the elims.

Her sterling round netted Del Rosario a spot in the US Girls Juniors Championship slated July 22-27 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“She played solid golf but still needs to polish her putting stroke along with the other team members. We can be at par with the best in shotmaking but putting has always been the key in winning big tournaments,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.

Over in Washington, Rodriguez, riding the crest of back-to-back victories in Long Beach and Sacramento, matched par 72 to finish second, three shots behind Briana Mao in the elims for the US Women’s Amateur.

Superal also clinched a berth in the US premier amateur championship despite a 74 as she wound up third with the top six advancing to the tournament proper.

Rodriguez, who rallied from three strokes down to bag two straight crowns the last two weeks, made two birdies against the same number of bogeys while Superal, the reigning Singapore Amateur Open champion, also had two birdies but fumbled with four bogeys.

The US Women’s Am will be played Aug. 5-11 at the Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.