Delasin 3 shots off

While Annika Sorenstam and arch-rival Karrie Webb forged another showdown for the LPGA crown, Fil-Am bet Dorothy Delasin stayed within striking distance of the fancied bets as she fired a second straight 70 to trail Sorenstam by three shots heading into the final round of the Takefuji Classic in Kailua-kona, Hawaii Friday.

With a 140 aggregate, the 20-year-old Delasin, the PSA Athlete of the Year awardee and the LPGA’s Rookie of the Year, shared sixth place with four others, three strokes behind Sorenstam, the Swede ace who shot a 67 to grab a two-shot lead over Webb and three others.

Sorenstam, who lost to Webb on the first hole of a playoff last year, had a seven-under 137 going into the final 18 holes of this event serving as the fourth leg of this LPGA Tour.

"I have quite a bad memory of certain things," said Sorenstam, who also took a two-stroke lead going into the 2000 final round of the event at the Kona Country Club course. "I remember I was leading, but that’s all. I know I’m happy with how I’m playing now. I just want to continue with what I did today."

Webb also said she is happy with how she is playing, or at least satisfied. She carded a 69 to tie Cristie Kerr (69) and Canadians Lorie Kane (69) and AJ Eathorne (70) for second at 139.

"I feel like my game is good enough," said Webb, who had five birdies and two bogeys. "I’m putting well and hitting the ball just as well. I just seem to be throwing one bad swing in there and making bogey, so I lost my momentum."

Although focus will be on the Sorenstam-Webb duel, Delasin hopes to spring a surprise in the final round in her attempt to set in motion her bid for a follow-up victory to her Giant Eagle Classic triumph that anchored her remarkable rookie campaign last year.

She is tied with veterans Pat Hurst (70) and Sophie Gustafsson (72), Sherri Turner (69) and Wendy Ward (68), while six others, led by Helen Alfredsson, also of Sweden, stood a stroke back at 141.

Delasin’s compatriot Jennifer Rosales, however, failed to recover from a disastrous 78 in the first round and missed the cut pegged at 148 with a 151 after a 73.