Fired up Delasin running sixth

Dorothy Delasin turned in her finest 36-hole performance in the LPGA Tour as she fired a second straight 70 Friday (Saturday in Manila) to remain in contention for the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship at the Eagle's Landing Country Club course in Stockbridge, Georgia.

Although the Daly City-based Fil-Am shotmaker dropped another stroke off two-day leader Sophie Gustafson with a 140, Delasin moved up from a share of ninth place to joint sixth with one round left in this $900,000 event serving as the 10th leg of the LPGA Tour.

That was Delasin's best-ever 36-hole showing since she and compatriot Jennifer Rosales joined the tour last January and the 1999 US Women's Amateur champion hopes to sustain her charge and come up with an impressive finish here.

Currently in 104th position in the money rankings with $12,699 winnings, Delasin tees off in the final round with Lorie Kane, who lost to Rachel Hetherington on the first hole of their sudden death last year.

Rosales, not wanting to be left behind or overshadowed by Delasin, survived the cut at 148 as she fought back with a 71 for a 146 that ensured her stint in the final 18 holes of this event which stakes $135,000 to the winner.

Gustafson, fighting off the challenge by the fancied bets in the tour, shot a 69 to keep her two-shot lead and zero in on her first LPGA Tour victory.

Gustafson, a 26-year-old Swede who struggles with a severe speech impediment, did her talking on the 6,187-yard layout as she fired that three-under card for a 10-under total of 134.

That was two shots up on veteran Laura Davies, who had a 66, and Michelle McGann, who carded a 68, while four-leg winner Karrie Webb also stayed within striking distance at 137 after a 69, spiked by an eagle on the last hole.

Because of her speech problem, it's difficult for Gustafson to develop close relationships with her fellow golfers. But they know she is capable of pulling her first LPGA victory, having won in Europe and Asia before joining the American tour last year.