RETURNING CHAMPION Delasin finds herself in a familiar place
She trails Kelly Robbins by six strokes entering the final round.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Dorothy Delasin has come from behind to win the past two Giant Eagle LPGA Classics.
If she wins again today at Squaw Creek Country Club and becomes the first three-time winner of this tournament, she will have added to that streak.
"It would be great if I did do a three-peat," Delasin said Saturday. "If I don't, this has always been a good tournament for me. I'm going to try my hardest not to give that title up."
The two-time defending champion shot her second straight 3-under par 69 and trails leader Kelly Robbins, who is at 12-under 132, by six strokes.
"I can't control what anybody does," said Delasin, 21, of South San Francisco, Calif. "I can only control what I do. I'll go out there and play hard and try to play well."
Similar spot
Delasin went into the final round the past two years trailing the leader by three strokes. Se Ri Pak held a two-shot lead over the field last year before Delasin fired a final-round 65 to take command.
"I'm going to try my hardest," Delasin said. "I'm going to have to shoot a miracle number in order to do that."
If Delasin hopes to make a move up the leaderboard, she will have to take control on the greens.
"I just need to make a lot of putts," Delasin said. "I got a couple on the back nine, but I still felt like I let myself short on a couple, though.
"I need to play better on the front side," she said. "I think when I play better on the front, I'll start a good run at it."
Delasin hopes to take advantage of a course that has been dried by warm temperatures over the past two days.
"The greens have been holding up pretty well," Delasin said.
"When the fairways dry up, you're going to get a lot more distance and be able to hit shorter irons into the green and attack the pin a little more. I'm going to try my best to do that tomorrow."
richesson@vindy.com