Dorothy trails by 5; Jenny wavers

Dorothy Delasin and Jennifer Rosales fashioned out contrasting rounds at the start of their campaign in the tough LPGA Tour with the former dishing out a solid three-under-par 69 and the latter struggling with a two-over-par 74 at the Subaru Memorial of Naples tournament in Naples, Florida Thursday (Friday in Manila).

Delasin, the 19-year-old Daly City-based Filipina whose victory in the US Women's Amateur championship last year prompted her to turn pro, strung up nines of 35-34 in windy conditions to be among the early contenders in the $850,000 event serving as the second leg of the circuit.

That put Delasin in joint 15th with five others, five strokes off Meg Mallon, the defending champion who turned the par-72 The Club course upside down with a stirring 64 that gave her a one-shot lead over Marisa Baena of Colombia and Nanci Bowen.

That fine start should further boost Delasin's confidence to work even harder in the second round Friday to ensure her stint in the final 36 holes in her very first try in the prestigious ladies pro circuit.

But compatriot Rosales, the 1998 US NCAA champion, found the going tough as she fumbled with a 74 in a not so encouraging start that placed her in joint 86th with 14 others among the 131 starters in this event skipped by four of the top players in the 1999 money list.

The 21-year-old Rosales actually held her ground with a solid 35 at the front but wavered coming home with a 39.

She has to come up with a spectacular round Friday to be able to make the cut considering the torrid scoring dished out by the competing field.

Mallon, picking up right where she left off last year, sizzled with a six-under 30 at the backside, including an eagle on the par-5 11, although she said later the key for her was surviving the first nine holes.

"You have to go through that front side, especially when the wind's blowing," said Mallon, who won last year's inaugural event by one stroke over Kelly Robbins and Helen Alfredsson.

Baena birdied three holes after three-putting No. 15 for a 65, the same score turned in by Bowen who had a 34-31 card.

Kellee Booth, the US top player in 1998 whom Delasin outclassed in the semifinal on her way to the US Women's amateur victory, shot a 68 to join Betsy King, while Grace Park, whom Rosales beat in her US NCAA triumph, fired a 70 for a share of 21st place. -