J-Ro in hot chase of Mizuno Classic crown

The Philippines’ Jennifer Rosales placed herself in a comfortable position to hit pay dirt again in the LPGA Tour by firing a sizzling seven-under 65 to move within two strokes of two-day leader Young Kim of Korea going into the final round of the Mizuno Classic at the Seta Golf Course in Shiga, Japan Saturday.

Barring any problem, Rosales could pull off her second win in the current tour and clinch a spot in the elite ADT Championship later this month.

Sustaining the momentum of her fiery finish in the first round where she shot a 67, Rosales got off to a birdie-birdie-par-birdie-birdie start and collected three more birdies going home for the seven-under card that propelled her to third place behind Kim and the legendary Annika Sorenstam.

With a two-day aggregate of 12-under 132, the Filipina ace is two strokes behind Kim and just one off Sorenstam.

Sorenstam remained in position for her record fifth straight victory in the Mizuno Classic, birdieing the final two holes for a 67.

Sorenstam, tied with Laura Davies for the LPGA Tour record for consecutive victories in a tournament with four, had six birdies and a bogey. Davies won the Standard Register Ping from 1994-97.

The Swedish star, a nine-stroke winner in each of the last two seasons, is 87 under in her last 14 rounds in the tournament.

She has eight LPGA Tour victories this year and also won a European tour event in Sweden.

Kim, who opened with a 63 to take a one-stroke lead over Sorenstam into the round, had eight birdies and three bogeys in her 67. The 25-year-old South Korean player is winless in three full seasons on the LPGA Tour.

Australia’s Karrie Webb (66) and South Korea’s Jeong Jang (67) followed Rosales at 11 under. Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson (67) was 10 under along with Japan’s Shiho Ohyama (69).