Delasin scores 69 for 18th

Dorothy Delasin dropped three strokes in the last three holes and missed moving to within three shots off American Rosie Jones as the Fil-Am shotmaker slid to 18th place with a 69 halfway through the LPGA Kathy Ireland Championship Friday (Saturday in Manila).

Delasin’s stint on the closing holes of the par-70 Onion Creek Club brought to mind her equally frustrating bogey-bogey finish in the first round of this $900,000 championship and it nearly put to waste an otherwise solid game that had her going four-under par after 12 holes.

Counting her earlier 70, Delasin pooled a 139, six strokes off Jones who shot a 67 to break out of a three-way tie for the lead. The Daly City-based Delasin could’ve moved to within three off Jones and boosted her bid for a second LPGA crown had she parred the last three holes.

Jones, a 10-time winner in nearly two decades on the tour and who is trying to become the first US player to win after 10 legs this season, had a 133 and wrested a two-shot cushion over Lorie Kane, who had a 135 after a 68, and three ahead of Cindy Figg-Currier, who also carded a 67.

Like Delasin, Jennifer Rosales struggled coming home with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18 although she made the cut with a 143 for a share of 44th place.

Jones, coming off her first season without a victory since 1994, collected five birdies that negated two bogeys then later downplayed her drought and the fact that US talent has gone winless through 10 LPGA events this year.

"I’m going to get some more Mexican food and a couple of beers and call it good," said Jones. "Leads are good, can’t complain about a lead. I feel good. I am playing really solid, hitting the ball well."