Del Rosario romps off with Faldo crown

MANILA, Philippines - Pauline del Rosario carded a final round three-over 73 and ran away with a whopping 18-stroke win over Austrian Emma Spitz in the girls’ Under-16 section to join the elite winners in the 18th Faldo Series Grand Final at the Greenbrier’s Old White TPC in West Virginia Friday.

Del Rosario, who virtually clinched the title after two rounds with a 71 and 74 and a 10-stroke lead, hit two birdies against three bogeys and a double-bogey in closing out her stint in the 54-hole tournament which drew 83 players from 20 countries. The top ICTSI-backed bet also clinched a berth in the Asia Grand Final at Mission Hills Golf Club in China next March.

Del Rosario’s victory also made up for ICTSI teammate and fellow Asian Gamer Princess Superal’s final round meltdown in the premier girls’ U-21 section where the reigning US Girls’ junior champion bombed out with a horrible 78.

In contention for the overall crown, that included the male players, Superal sputtered early with a bogey and a double-bogey. She birdied No. 3 but after four pars, bogeyed No. 8, dropped two strokes on No. 11 and bogeyed four of the last seven against a lone birdie for a 37-41 card.

Superal’s foldup enabled American Megan Khang to snatch the U-21 crown with a 217 after a 73 as the Filipina ace wound up joint second with American Kelly Whaley, who matched par 70, at 220.

It was a sorry finish for Superal, who tied for the overall lead with a gutsy 69 in the first round and stayed in the hunt despite falling to third with a 73 on the second day.