Del Rosario foils young Korean, wins title by 1

CAVINTI, Laguna—Pauline del Rosario lived through a backside scare from Kim Seoyun, closing out with a two-putt par for a 71 then watching the Korean miss by a roll for birdie to pull off a one-stroke victory in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here yesterday.

Kim charged back from four strokes down in the last six holes with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 13 then came threateningly close after del Rosario put to naught a birdie on the 16th with a bogey on the next, making it a one-shot lead heading to the par-4 18th of the Caliraya Springs Golf Club.

After both reached the green in regulation, the Korean putted first from 20 feet out, the ball rolling into the cup before swerving to the right at the finish for a 68, enabling del Rosario to pound the victory after muffing her own birdie bid from closer range.

Del Rosario thus pocketed the top P115,000 prize on an eight-under 208 total while on a three-week break from the Epson Tour with the victory serving as a big confidence booster as she builds up for the Copper Rock Championship in Utah next week.

“I think what I would take away from this week is my short game since Cali-