Jenny pulls out; Stupples unstoppable

Jennifer Rosales hurt her wrist again Saturday (Sunday in Manila), forcing the ace Filipina shotmaker to withdraw from an LPGA tournament for the second time in three weeks.

"Namaga uli," said Rosales’ swing coach Bong Lopez, referring to his ward’s right wrist, which swelled after Rosales carded a 73 in the second round of the Jamie Farr Corning Classic in Toledo, Ohio Friday.

Karen Stupples, trying for victories in consecutive weeks, shot a 3-under 68 Saturday to build a three-stroke lead over Marilyn Lovander through three rounds of the tournament.

Coming off last week’s win at the British Women’s Open, Stupples also is attempting to end Se Ri Pak’s bid for a record-tying fifth win at the Farr.

It was another blow to Rosales’ campaign on the lucrative circuit where she made big strides when she won the Chick-Fil-A Championship last May, her first in five years.

But she never came close to winning after that although she led in the third round of the US Women’s Open only to falter in the final round and settle for fourth place last July 4 then finished ninth in the Canadian Women’s Open the week after.

Last week, fresh from a week-long rest, Rosales failed to impress and finished 39th in the Weetabix British Women’s Open.

Rosales also quit in the middle of the Evian Masters in France three weeks ago when medics told her to quit with a swollen wrist she sustained after she hit a solid object while blasting out of a fairway trap.

She actually opened her bid in the Jamie Farr Classic with a 69 despite playing with a heavily-bandaged wrist and stood just four shots off the pace in the first round.

"She would need a two-week rest before resuming her campaign on the tour. By that time, we hope that her injury will completely heal," said Lopez, adding that Rosales is due to take a much-deserved rest here in late September or early October. — Dante Navarro