Fine-tuning her swing, Jenny taps new coach

Jennifer Rosales has decided to terminate the services of Bong Lopez, ending an eight-year partnership with the most sought after swing coach in the land and mentor of the national squad that produced two LPGA championships.

Rosales cited Lopez’s hectic schedule and her desire to effect some minor changes in her swing which she wanted to be more compact as she resumes her bid to finally bag the big one — a major championship — this year.

"He’s so busy…coaching the national team and all that. So I told him last week that it has become difficult for him to train me and at the same time handle the national team," said Rosales of Lopez, whom she also regarded as brother and confidante.

When contacted, Lopez, who first handled Rosales when he was still the national coach in 1998 before working with her fulltime in 2001, begged off to comment on the breakup but a source said it was him who decided to resign as Rosales’ mentor.

"It was a hard decision for him to make but he had to do it," said the source.

It was a breakup no one else thought would happen especially at this time when Rosales is eyeing no less than a major victory.

"I’ve got to try something new," Rosales said.

The fresh start comes with the decision to tap Gerard Cantada as her coach. The past few days saw Canta datinker with Rosales’ swing at Wack Wack’s driving range.

"Actually, there are no major changes (in my swing). I just wanted my swing to be more consistent and make it more compact because I used to have a loose swing," said Rosales. — Dante Navarro