Delasin fires 67, trails leaders by three

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois — Fil-Am Dorothy Delasin started with a birdie and came up with a birdie-birdie finish in a solid five-under 67 that moved her to within three strokes of the lead after the second round of the LPGA State Farm Classic at the Rail Golf Club here.

Still looking for her first victory in the current tour, the 2000 LPGA rookie of the year awardee collected nines of 34-33 to gain a piece of ninth place with six others, three shots behind joint leaders Tina Barrett and Sherri Turner.

Filipina ace Jennifer Rosales shot herself in the foot with a 77 and missed the cut with a two-day aggregate of five-over 149.

Delasin, who carded a one-under 71 in the first round, did better in the second round with seven birdies against two bogeys as she put herself in a good position for a possible fifth finish inside the Magic 10 in the 2005 LPGA campaign. She has earned $221,744 in the current season.

Turner and Barrett shot three-under 69s to surge past overnight leader Heather Bowie who struggled with a 71.

Turner and Barrett, each looking for their first victory since 1989, started the round a shot off the pace and got to nine-under 135.

Barrett opened with an eagle from about 110 yards at the first hole, and followed with three birdies against two bogeys. Turner carded six birdies and overcame a double bogey after hitting her tee shot at No. 16 into the water for the second straight day.

"I don’t know what the deal is… I told my caddie, ‘Tomorrow, you line me up,’" said Turner, who is seeking her fourth LPGA Tour win.

First-round leader Bowie fell one stroke back at eight under along with Maria Hjorth, Liselotte Nuemann and Pat Hurst.

Nuemann, a 13-time winner, had a second-round seven-under 65, while two-time winner Hjorth carded a five-under 67. Hurst had an inconsistent round of eight birdies, two double-bogeys and a bogey in a three-under 69.

"I can’t think about that. It’s over and done with. I got the birdies and will carry that into Saturday and Sunday," said Hurst, a three-time winner and a member of the US Solheim Cup team that faces the Europeans on Sept. 9-11 in Carmel, Ind. — With AP report