Rosales Loses Nerve, Shares Lead

Scoreboard shock cost USC freshman Jennifer Rosales sole possession of first place heading into the final round of the NCAA Division I women’s golf championship at Madison, Wis.

When Rosales glanced up at No. 17 on Friday and realized she had passed Arizona State freshman Grace Park, she got so unnerved she hit her tee shot in the water.

“I felt like jumping into the water myself,” Rosales said. “I almost fainted. I just saw my name on the scoreboard and thought, ‘Oh my God! I’m leading!’ And I just choked.”

But Rosales, who shot a one-over-par 73, moved back into a tie when Park bogeyed the same hole on her way to a five-over 77 after consecutive 65s. Each player is at nine-under 207.

Arizona State has a 14-stroke lead over Florida after three rounds.

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Harrison Frazar shot a three-under 67 and clung to a two-shot lead over Mark Calcavecchia, Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk after two rounds of the Colonial at Fort Worth.

Auto Racing

Pole-sitter Bobby Labonte and Dick Trickle escaped injury after crashing during practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway for today’s Carquest Auto Parts 300 NASCAR Busch Grand National race.

Labonte plans to repair the No. 44 Pontiac so he can remain on the front row of the 300-mile race. Trickle will go to a backup car, meaning he’ll start at the rear.

There will be no Speedway motorcycle racing tonight at the Orange County Fairgrounds because of the Memorial Day weekend. Racing will resume May 30.

Tennis

Venus and Serena Williams got their wish in Friday’s draw. The only way the sisters can meet at the French Open is in the final.

Venus Williams, seeded eighth, will open against Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand.

One intriguing women’s first-round match is No. 13 Anna Kournikova, 16, of Russia and Amelie Mauresmo, 18, of France. Kournikova beat No. 1 Martina Hingis for the first time this month at Berlin; Mauresmo, the 1996 world junior champion, reached the German Open final as a qualifier before losing to Conchita Martinez.

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Australian Open champion Petr Korda led the Czech Republic into the finals of the World Team Cup at Duesseldorf, Germany, with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Mark Philippoussis of Australia.

Chile’s Marcelo Rios downed Italy’s Andrea Gaudenzi, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the final of the Raiffeisen Grand Prix in Austria. He will face unseeded American Vince Spadea, who beat defending champion Marcelo Filippini of Uruguay, 6-3, 6-0.

Miscellany

First Sovereign upset IBA Dasher, the fastest qualifier and a 1-2 favorite, in the $383,660 Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos Race Course. First Sovereign, with 6-1 odds, beat IBA Dasher by a nose and paid $15.20, $3.70 and $3.

With Roman Figueroa in the saddle, First Sovereign finished in 15.31 seconds to break IBA Dasher’s record of 15.33 in the 300-yard final. First Sovereign is trained by Blane Schvaneveldt.

Irish swimmer Michelle Smith’s second urine sample apparently has the same signs of physical manipulation found in the first specimen, her lawyer said. FINA said last month Smith’s first sample showed “unequivocal signs of adulteration.” . . . The Jacksonville Jaguars signed running back James Stewart to a two-year deal worth $3.2 million. . . . The Carolina Hurricanes re-signed forward Paul Ranheim. . . . Amanda Scott of Fresno State pitched a no-hitter and Nancy Evans of Arizona a one-hitter as their softball teams both won, 8-0, at Oklahoma City to remain unbeaten in the Women’s College World Series.