ICTSI Ladies: Jennifer unfazed by poor start

MANILA, Philippines—It’s been 18 years since Jennifer Rosales played an official tournament on Philippine soil, becoming a hot global property while away from home by creating a lot of ripple on the US LPGA.

Obviously a little heavier than before, the 36-year-old Rosales struggled for words when asked how it felt after opening up with a level 72 yesterday in the $75,000 ICTSI Ladies Open where she has been tagged as the country’s brightest hope.

“It’s weird,” Rosales told the Inquirer with a big smile after an up-and-down round at the tight Southlinks layout. “It’s weird in a nice way, because, you know, playing at home after almost two decades.

“I missed doing this.”

Garbed in an eye-catching combination of neon green shorts and head gear and a neon green-striped hot orange top, Rosales not only commanded attention because of what she wore, but because of her game that won her two LPGA events the last decade.

She lost a two-under card going to her last four holes, ruing several missed chances caused by her unfamiliarity of the layout.

“I wish I could have turned in more than a round of practice,” Rosales said. “I feel that I could have done a lot better (had I had known the course more). I committed mental mistakes, which could have been avoided if I knew the course better.”

Four shots off the lead and with just 36 holes left, Rosales knows that a lot of things can still happen, that the leaderboard can be shaken up at any day, at any time, considering how tough the course is playing.

And when reminded that possibly the entire country would want to see her win in her homecoming, Rosales’ face—her hair wet because of a steady late morning drizzle—lit up and acknowledged the support she has been enjoying.

“I’m going to try (to win),” she said. “I will be trying hard for everyone.”