‘J-Ro’ finishes 17th, earns P1-M in Safeway Classic

Jennifer “J-Ro" Rosales of the Philippines shot an even par 72 in the final round to end up tied for 17th place in the Safeway Classic won by Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Korean rookie player M.J. Hur in North Plains, Oregon. Rosales, who earlier made a four-under 68 and a two-under 70, missed a top 10 finish after bogeys on Nos. 11 and 18 which sandwiched a birdie on No. 16. Still, the two-time LPGA winner netted a check worth $21,537 (or about P1.03 million). The 31-year-old Filipina, who has yet to win this season, was a monster off the tees with a 262-yard average but did not fare well in the putting department (1.65 putts per hole) and in hitting fairways in regulation (33 of 54). “I’m earning but I can’t be contented with this. I have to keep on pushing to get a victory," Rosales said.

In contrast, Hur played like a veteran in the Safeway tilt. She carded a career-low, seven-under 65 in the final round of the three-day tourney, beating out a pair of LPGA veterans, Suzann Pettersen and Michele Redman in a playoff. Hur claimed her first-ever LPGA success, and the $255,000 winner's paycheck. After taking advantage of the day's near-perfect conditions, she recorded the round of her career with an eagle on the par-5, 495-yard 10th hole, and birdies on numbers eight, nine, 11, 12 and 14. Once she finished and signed her scorecard, Hur wasn't sure if she was done for the day quite yet. Turned out she was called back to the 18th tee, along with Pettersen (68-68-67=203, -13) and Redman (67-69-67=203, -13), for a playoff. Hur and Pettersen both saved par on the first playoff hole, while Redman bogeyed, ending her run, and settling for third place. Once the South Korean, Hur, and the Norwegian, Pettersen, traveled back to the 17th tee to settle this thing once and for all, Hur was left standing in the winner's circle with a big smile on her face. "It was my goal this year (to win) because I was working really hard last winter training with my swing coach," said Hur. "It makes me really, really happy. It helped me a lot." – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV