Del Rosario grabs Singapore Jrs lead

MANILA, Philippines - Pauline del Rosario shot a bogey-free three-under 69 to storm to a six-stroke lead over erstwhile leader Abegail Arevalo while Sam Martinez moved up to joint second as Team ICTSI-Philippines threatened to score another sweep in the 22nd SICC/DBS Junior Invitational Golf Championship 2013 in Singapore yesterday.

Del Rosario, who with ICTSI teammates Bernice Olivarez-Ilas and Mikhaela Fortuna swept the individual and team crowns in the Kids World Golf Championship in Malaysia two weeks ago, birdied Nos. 8, 12 and 17 at the Singapore Island Country Club’s Sime course.

She also salvaged two pars to complete a 35-34 card and surge past Arevalo and first-round co-leader Thai Sasikarn Somboonsup with a 143 aggregate in the 12-15 years category.

Del Rosario, also a Junior World champion in the 13-14 division, stood six shots ahead of Arevalo and Somboonsup, who skied to a pair of 76s for 149s, the same output put in by Martinez, who carded a 74.

Ilas hardly recovered from an opening 76 with a 75 for a 151 for joint fifth with Indon Inez Wanamarta while Sofia Chabon fell way behind at 152 despite a 74 and Fortuna limped with a 77 for a 159.

Team ICTSI also ran away with three titles in last week’s Pondok Indah Junior Golf Championship in Jakarta with spearhead Princess Superal and Chabon copping the individual plums in Classes A and B and the team crown.