Pauline del Rosario lost grip of her game, turning in a one-over-par 73 on Friday to drop out of contention in the LPGA of Taiwan Party Golfers Ladies Open in Shubei City.
With one round left in the meet, Del Rosario reeled with four bogeys against three birdies to slide 10 shots off the leadership.
Now at five-under total 211, Del Rosario is at joint seventh place. She shot back-to-back 69s the first two rounds.
“I had three birdie chances that could’ve gone in, but the putts today (yesterday), they weren’t falling as much as they did yesterday (Thursday),” said Del Rosario, who also flubbed par-saving putts inside six feet on Nos. 2, 15 and 17.
She found her touch on No. 11, which she drilled in from six feet and her second birdie on No. 14 from just about the same distance sparked hopes of a strong finish for the ICTSI-backed ace, who is building up for the LPGA Q-Series from 30 November to 5 December in Alabama.
But a mishit led to a third bogey on the par-3 15th and after a missed birdie chance on the last long hole, she yielded another stroke on the 17th before rolling in a monster putt from way out on the last.
Hometown bets occupied the top three rungs of the standings with Ling-jie Chen holding a four-stroke lead following her 67 for a 201 total over three rounds of this NT$4 million championship co-sanctioned by the TLPGA and the LPGT.
Ya-Chun Chang carded a 68 but remained at solo second at 205, while erstwhile leader Babe Liu slumped with a 73 to go two shots further back.
