By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Pauline del Rosario brings both prestige and promise to the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge that started yesterday at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Negros Occidental’s Murcia town.

Currently campaigning on the Epson Tour, Del Rosario’s return to the local circuit isn’t just a reunion with familiar faces — it’s a mission to reclaim her dominance on home soil.

The 26-year-old shotmaker burst onto the LPGT scene in 2017 with four wins and an Order of Merit title, then took her talents abroad in pursuit of LPGA dreams.

While a full-time LPGA card still eludes her, she remains steadfast and optimistic about her trajectory.

However, a triumphant homecoming won’t come easy as she battles a competitive field in the 54-hole championship at the tricky Bacolod Golf and Country Club.

The par-70 layout is short on paper but long on difficulty, with narrow fairways, unpredictable winds and small, elevated greens that demand precise shot-making and a deft short game.

Her fourth-place finish at the Philippine Ladies Masters last February — the highest among locals in a strong, Korean- and Thailand-dominated field — reaffirmed her status as one of the country’s premier golfers.

Armed with international experience and the hunger to win at home, she’ll be the one everyone’s watching in the week-long competition./ASC, WDJ