Del Rosario back in LPGT spotlight, leads Bacolod cast

Pauline del Rosario is set to headline the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge, which tees off Sept. 2 at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin, Murcia.

The PHP 750,000 event marks the fifth leg of the 2024 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and promises a high-caliber showdown between local stars and rising talents.

Del Rosario, currently campaigning on the Epson Tour in the U.S., returns to home soil not just to reconnect with familiar faces but to reassert her dominance in Philippine golf.

The 26-year-old made a breakthrough on the LPGT in 2017 with four titles and an Order of Merit crown before pursuing her LPGA aspirations abroad.

While a full LPGA Tour card remains a work in progress, Del Rosario remains focused and optimistic about her trajectory.

Her return, however, comes with a challenge.

The par-70 Bacolod layout is deceptively short but demands accuracy, with narrow fairways, swirling winds and small, elevated greens that test precision and a sharp short game.

Among her biggest threats is Princess Superal, a former Order of Merit winner and Asia Pacific Cup champion, fresh off a playoff win over Sarah Ababa in a recent LPGT stop.

Superal, known for her steadiness under pressure, is aiming for back-to-back victories as she builds momentum in her return to top form.

Ababa, one of the most consistent performers on tour this season, is also due for another breakthrough.

Also in the hunt are past LPGT champions Harmie Constantino, Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera and Mafy Singson.

Constantino looks to bounce back after a stretch of below-par finishes, while Ikeda, with her experience and grit, remains a perennial threat.

Adding international flair is Korean standout Tiffany Lee, who has impressed in her transition from the Junior PGT to the pro ranks.

With a solid all-around game and growing confidence, Lee could be a surprise contender in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized event.

Returning to the local scene is Lois Kaye Go, a former national team mainstay eyeing her first pro title.

She’ll be joined by up-and-coming players Kayla Nocum, Annika Cedo, Rev Alcantara, Martina Miñoza, Pamela Mariano, Velinda Castil and Korean Seoyun Kim, all eager to break through.

Local pride will also be on the line, with club operations manager Cara Golez hoping to turn her knowledge of the Binitin course into a competitive edge.

Veterans like Gretchen Villacencio, Kristine Fleetwood and Eva Miñoza also add depth and experience to the field.

Still, the spotlight remains firmly on Del Rosario.

Her fourth-place finish in the Philippine Ladies Masters last February — the highest among Filipinas in a field dominated by Koreans and Thais — cemented her status as one of the country’s top players.

Armed with international experience and a renewed hunger to win at home, she enters the Bacolod leg as the player to beat.