J-Ro Cup reels off today

MANILA, Philippines - The first J-Ro Cup, featuring the country’s leading jungolfers in the girls ranks, fires off today at the AFP Golf Club (formerly Aguinaldo Golf Club) with no less than two-time LPGA winner Jennifer Rosales gracing the event.

Rosales is putting up the 18-hole stroke-play event as part of her commitment to help aspiring young Filipino players develop their skills and at the same time inspire and motivate them as they gear up for various international competitions.

They include Ann Sabater, Marvi Monsalve and Maan Legaspi in the Class A group while Princess Superal, Dana Gonzales, Bianca Pagdanganan, Felicia Medalla, Nikki Bruce lead the cast in Class B.

“I believe this is an opportunity for these young players to enhance and display their talent. I want to inspire them to keep playing and hope that my achievements can encourage them to reach their potential,” said Rosales, who also won the Women’s World Cup with Fil-Am Dorothy Delasin in 2008.

Pauline del Rosario, Samantha Martirez, Abigael Arevalo and Mia Legaspi make up the field in Class C while Samantha Bruce, Bernie Ilas, Nicole Abelar, Missy LEgaspi and Kristine Torralba composed the Class D field. Sophia Blanco and Annika Salustiano are in Class E.

Joining Rosales, also the former five-time Philippine Ladies Open champion, in the ceremonial drive at 8 a.m. are former President Fidel V. Ramos, San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito and National Golf Association of the Philippines president Leandro Mendoza.

“It is with great excitement to have my first tournament at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club where I started playing and began to love the game. It’s just so nice to see so many young girls playing golf now,” said Rosales, who took up the sport at age 12.

“I have been given countless blessings and I want to share and motivate young Filipino players to become future professional golfers to represent the country. I’m so positive that in the future my dream will come true and see all you girls there,” said Rosales, who vowed to make the tournament an annual affair.

Rosales is in the thick of her preparations for the resumption of her LPGA campaign in June, starting with the ShopRite LPGA Classic in Galloway, New Jersey.