Rosales four shots behind leader

Jennifer Rosales, back in harness after a two-week rest, fired a one-under par 70 to stay four strokes off Australian Karrie Webb in the opener of the $2.2 million Michelob Ultra Open at the par-71 Kingsmill Resort and Spa at Kingsmill, Virginia.

Rosales, who skipped last week’s Franklin American Mortgage Championship after missing the cut in the Ginn Clubs and Resorts Open in Florida, mixed three birdies against two bogeys for that 35-35 card that gained her a share of 13th place with 10 others, including Paula Creamer and Juli Inkster.

The 27-year-old Rosales had a fine stint off the mound, hitting all but three fairways but struggled a bit with her short game, missing the greens six times, two of which she bogeyed.

Webb, winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, sizzled with a five-under par 66 to pace Jimin Kang one stroke while Pat Hurst shot a 68 to tie three others for third place.

Over in Texas, Jayvie Agojo sputtered coming home for a 76 and stood in joint 20th place in a field of 130 at the start of the NCAA Division I Women’s Central Regional golf tournament at the Traditions Golf Club Thursday.

Agojo, who recently topped the West Coast Conference (WCC) Women’s Golf Championship in Copperopolis, California, had an even par card after she birdied the par 5 No. 10. But the former RP Ladies Open champion faltered on her homeward trip, dropping five strokes against a birdie on No. 15 for that 37-39 card.

She fell by six strokes behind joint leaders Devan Andersen of Texas and Amanda Blumenherst of Duke, who both fired two-under par 70s to lead by one over Irene Cho of Southern California and three others.

With her teammates likewise struggling, Pepperdine U pooled a 303 for fourth in team play. So. California leads the way with 293 for a one-stroke lead over Duke in the five-to-play, four-to-count format event.

Leanne Bowditch carded a 75 for the Pepperdine Waves. Other scorers were Carolina Llano and Marina Choi, who both had 76s while Eileen Vargas didn’t count with a 76.