Player Diary :
Jennifer Rosales

Jennifer Rosales is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has been on the LPGA Tour since 2000.  Her first victory came this year at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez.

Her record in the U.S. Open consists of one top 10 in 2002, when she finished tied for seventh, and two top 25s -- a tie for 12^th in her first Open in 2000 and a tie for 13^th last year. She had an outstanding second round, carding a 4-under 67, to soar to the top of the leader board.

Well, I'm in the lead as I am doing this. Of course anything can happen and I know that.  I told everyone in the media room that if it's meant to be then it will happen, and I believe that as well.

Coming off the bogey on the 18^th this morning, when I finished my first round, I knew I had a chance to play the back nine again first.  I also knew the birdie holes are on the back side -- 11, 12, 13 and 14. They are short holes and I wanted to get a good start early on them so I could save something for the difficult 16^th  and 18^th [holes].  I got lucky and made birdies on the first three holes, and while I did falter on the 16^th making a bogey, I got it back on the 18^th with a birdie.

I just hit such a good shot into the hole on the 18^th and had just 4 feet left downhill for birdie and made the putt.

While I think the back nine has possibilities, I think the front side is tougher. I just told myself to be patient, birdies are going to come. You can't force it on the front side, there's no birdie holes out there like on the back nine. You just have to play the hole and hopefully make putts.

I got lucky and made two birdies including the birdie on the ninth hole, which got me in a tie for the lead.

I've never led a championship after 36 holes, but did lead the McDonald's LPGA Championship after the first round this year and finished tied for 13^th in May.  I was patient for the remaining rounds at the McDonalds, but never got anything going.

My philosophy hasn't changed, I can't pressure myself and I just need to tell myself it's an ordinary tournament. If it's the U.S. Open, it's the U.S. Open and I just got to be patient out there.  It seems to me the course is set up for my shots and I'm pretty happy about that, and feel I can play well here.

But right now I'm going to go and take a nap and play with my dogs Bally & Asia and my niece and nephews, Anton and Isa, who are my constant companions on the road.