Rosales still four off pace with 70

MANILA, Philippines - Jennifer Rosales stayed in the hunt in her bid to break out of a long spell, firing a two-under par 70 to move up to joint ninth in the second round of the Safeway Classic at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club’s Ghost Greek course in North Plains, Oregon Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Rosales, a two-time LPGA winner but on a winless campaign the last four years, birdied three of the last 10 holes to overcome her first bogey in two days on No. 2 as she turned in nines of 37-33.

Counting her bogey-free 68 in the first round, Rosales pooled a 138 as she joined MJ Hur (69), Christina Kim (70), Jeong Jang (70), Russy Gulyanamitta (67) and Sophie Gustafson (67) in ninth place heading into the last 18 holes of the 54-hole $1.7 million tournament.

But the Filipino shotmaker remained four strokes behind new leader Anna Nordqvist, who shot five birdies against two bogeys for a 69 and took charge with a 134 for a one-shot lead over Seon Hwa Lee and Al Miyazato.

First day leader Beth Bader, who scored a 64 Friday, bogeyed three of her first nine holes but birdied four of the next six only to drop two strokes on the par-3 16. She finished with a one-over 73, tumbling down to joint sixth with Natalie Gulbis (69) at 137.