On Thursday, Filipina pro golfer Pauline del Rosario carded an impressive five-under-par 67 in the third round of the LPGA and Epson Tour Qualifying Tournament Stage II at the Panther course of the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida.
At joint fifth place, the 25-year-old Del Rosario is already looking at making it to the top 40 of the stage that would qualify her for the LPGA Q-Series late next month.
In essence, she is knocking on the door that could lead her to the lucrative LPGA Tour.
Easier said than done, if you ask her.
“This is my third appearance (in Q-School Stage II). Each year, I just try to better what I’ve been working on,” Del Rosario said in an interview with LPGA.com.
“Playing Stage II is really nerve-wracking for any player. So, we try to hone everything together for just this one week and keep our nerves together. I just want to keep the momentum going by staying calm and doing my routine and my process.”
After 72 in the second round, Del Rosario fought back strong, striking seven birdies against two bogeys to stay the course.
She is just five shots off the leader, Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad whose 70 on Thursday allowed her to post a 13-under 203.
Del Rosario turned pro right out of high school after outgrowing local competitions, capturing among other tournaments, the 2017 LPGT and Royal Open before finally moving to the United States to compete professionally.
“So, I turned pro after high school. I knew what I wanted to do, which was play professional golf and not go through the college route,” Del Rosario recalled.
“I just stuck with my decision and committed myself to playing professional golf and everything it takes to be a professional golfer.”
She finished a second full season on the Epson Tour ending it at 79th in Race for the Card. She was 103rd the previous year.
Now if she makes the Q-Series, she would join fellow Filipinas Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina who are also vying for full status in the LPGA Tour.
