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ASSOCIATED PRESS First-round leader Jennifer Rosales shot a 6-under 66 yesterday.

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Rosales adds color
to talent

Jennifer Rosales doesn't wear khaki shorts or a baggy shirt that's two sizes too large.

Her trademark bandanna and a shirt better-suited for a cyclist pedaling her way through the Alps usually match the stylish sunglasses she wears behind her head whenever she's indoors. A graduate of Southern California but a product of the Philippines, Rosales would be more comfortable on MTV than the Golf Channel.

But this hip 26-year-old, called J-Ro by her friends, is not only about style -- she's got game and displayed it early and often during yesterday's opening round of the $1 million SBS Open.

Her 6-under 66 held up all day as she took a two-shot lead over Texan Angela Stanford entering today's second 18 holes of the first full-field event on the LPGA Tour.

Originally not scheduled to play here as she took an extended leave back home in Manila, Rosales only played a couple of rounds of golf in the offseason as she prepared for her sixth full year as a professional.

In 2004, she finally broke through to win the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship that's hosted by the legendary Nancy Lopez. It was not only her first victory as a pro, but the first time a woman from the Philippines won on tour, something not lost on this soft-spoken, yet flamboyant player.

Was her reception back home what she expected?

"Actually, it was worse," Rosales said. "I had a good year and that is what I get when I get back home. I am able to influence a lot of younger ones and give them wisdom and give them a lot of good examples. That is what I did."

Rosales is a true pioneer in her own country. While the Philippines is well known for its boxers, golf hasn't exactly caught on in her country, especially for women. In many ways, she's blazing the fairways for young girls wanting to take up the game.

There's no doubt Rosales is up to the task. She already has made a fashion statement that not everyone out here can wear well. But she's more than that, due in part to her top-10 finish on the money list last year.

"I was ranked No. 1 (in college) and was so confident," Rosales said, when asked if she wanted to shake things up right away in her rookie season.

"But when I got out here I was nobody. It is so hard adjusting to the competition. Everybody is so good out here. It is just a matter of having a good week, but my game plan is just to be consistent and keep putting myself in contention and make a run for it."

Her headbands have already made her a household name in many circles. Even as far away as South Africa, at the Women's World Cup of Golf, a fan wanted her bandanna for a souvenir.

"Everyone wants my bandanna, especially back home," Rosales said. "Actually, I gave it away for the first time in South Africa. This lady came up to me and said, 'I am going to wear this with honor, Jen.' Yeah, it was an older lady. I can't picture her wearing a bandanna."

A lot of her fellow professionals feel the same way about Rosales' line of clothing.

"They say to me, "You are the only one who can pull it off,' " Rosales said, not bothering to notice her pun. "It is getting more trendy. Every year it gets better out here clothes-wise."

Hoop it up

Stanford didn't put her clubs in the garage for the entire offseason, but did take enough time off to coach a JV basketball team at a small private school south of her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.

"I love basketball -- it is my first love," Stanford said. "I was too short and too slow to play in college. I remember my high school coaches and their influences on my life. It is just a good time to hang around the kids and just take my mind off of golf and still stay competitive."

In her fourth year as coach for the junior varsity girls at Trinity Valley, they overcame a slow start to finish fairly strong.

"We had a tough year," Stanford said. "We started out 1-8 and finished like 7-11. With six or seven freshmen on the team, they learned quite a bit."

Inside the numbers

You didn't have to go far to find the easiest and most difficult holes during yesterday's opening round. The easiest was the par-5 third and the most difficult was the par-3 fourth.

The scoring average at the 452-yard third was 4.666. There were two eagles by Lindsey Wright and Jenna Daniels, 50 birdies, 72 pars, six bogeys and two doubles by Sophie Gustafson and Michelle McGann. The 204-yard fourth yielded a scoring average of 3.401. There were seven birdies, 83 pars, 24 bogeys and an astonishing 18 double bogeys.

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UH D-linemen can
recuperate in spring

Spring practice, which begins at the end of next month, will be a healing time for many of the Hawaii football team's top prospects for playing time on the defensive line, UH head coach June Jones said yesterday.

"This spring we're really limited D-line-wise. A lot of them are on IR (injured reserve) and won't be able to practice this spring. We've got a bunch of shoulder operations," Jones said. "But by the summer and when fall camp rolls around we should be all healthy and in pretty good shape."

Some of the potential starters who will be out in the spring recovering are senior end Tony Akpan and second-year freshman tackles Fale Laeli and Lafu Tuioti-Mariner, all coming back from shoulder surgery.

Senior defensive ends Mel Purcell and Kila Kamakawiwo'ole are OK, but probably won't practice that much since both are returning starters. Junior Ikaika Alama-Francis and sophomore Karl Noa are also back at end.

While game experience inside is scarce with the departure of starting tackles Lui Fuga and Matt Faga, defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said numbers is not a problem.

"We've got about 20 guys, and we'll be looking at young kids like we usually do," he said.

On the other side

UH's offense has some major retooling to do before next season, but the line returns virtually intact. The only hole to fill is at right guard, where Uriah Moenoa (a four-year starter on the line) played last year.

Warriors offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh said tackles Jeremy Inferrera, a junior, and Brandon Eaton, a senior, will get looks at the position in spring practice.

Eaton was the starting right tackle most of last season and in 2003, and Inferrera has started at both tackle spots off and on in 2003 and 2004.

"There will be a lot of good competition," Cavanaugh said.

Junior Dane Uperesa will get a long look at right tackle, Cavanaugh added.

It's official

Much offseason speculation has centered on the future of Nate Ilaoa, in particular the possibility of him moving to running back. The strong and shifty slotback has had to deal with knee and shoulder injuries through most of his UH career, and he's played in just one game the past two seasons.

Running backs coach Wes Suan said Ilaoa is working out with his charges, and will do so in the spring.

"He has a lot of the attributes you look for in a running back," Suan said.

The Warriors' top three running backs from last season -- Michael Brewster, West Keli'ikipi and Mike Bass -- are all gone.

Jones likes slate

UH's schedule was officially released yesterday, and the home game against Wisconsin was moved to Friday, Nov. 25, the day after Thanksgiving, for ESPN.

"We have a bye the week before, so that's a non-issue," Jones said.

ESPN wanted the season opener against USC to be moved from Saturday, Sept. 3, but UH and USC liked it where it is. There's no decision yet on national TV.

After playing the national champion Trojans, the Warriors go to Michigan State on Sept. 10.

"It's a tough schedule, but certainly a great one for our fans," Jones said. "It's going to be fun to get the exposure of playing against USC and Michigan State, especially for our kids

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2005 UH schedule

Sept. 3	USC	6:05 p.m.
Sept. 10	at Michigan State	TBA
Sept. 24	at Idaho	TBA
Oct. 1	Boise State	6:05 p.m.
Oct. 8	at Louisiana Tech	TBA
Oct. 15	New Mexico State	6:05 p.m.
Oct. 22	at San Jose State	2 p.m.
Oct. 29	Fresno State	6:05 p.m.
Nov. 5	at Nevada	TBA
Nov. 12	Utah State	6:05 p.m.
Nov. 25	Wisconsin	4:05 p.m.
Dec. 3	San Diego State	6:05 p.m.