VIENNA Daniel gets 69 for fifth

Tammie Green rebounded after a bad Friday.
By JAYME RAMSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Of the seven past local champions at this year's Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, Beth Daniel has fared the best.
Daniel is in fifth place after shooting a 69 to finish at 7-under par after two days of competition at Squaw Creek Country Club.
"I didn't play very well today. I didn't hit my tee ball well," Daniel said. "I got myself in trouble and had to pitch out a couple times -- not exactly what I was hoping for.
"Now I have to go really low tomorrow if I have any chance of winning this golf tournament," Daniel said. "I was looking forward to playing well today and then I went out and just didn't hit it well."
Tammie Green, who won at Avalon in 1994 and 1997, shot the low round of the day at 65 to improve to 3-under par.
Green, who shot a 4-over-par 76 on Friday, had seven birdies and no bogeys in the second round.
Delasin shoots 69
Defending champion Dorothy Delasin shot 69 for the second straight day to finish at 6-under par going into the final round. She had six birdies and three bogeys.
Jackie Gallagher-Smith, the 1999 winner at Howland's Avalon Lakes, shot 71 and finished at 5-under par. She birdied two holes and bogeyed one.
Se Ri Pak enters today's round at 3-under par after shooting 70. Pak birdied three holes and bogeyed one hole.
Michelle McGann, the 1995 and 1996 champion, missed the cut at 1-over par.
McGann said the course gave her some problems.
"The course was really wet," McGann said. "It was wet before we got here. It was tough because there were a lot of back pins and you don't want to be over it but you gotta get it to the hole or you're spinning it off the green.
"It is frustrating because I didn't feel like I hit it that bad and I just didn't really get any good breaks and I didn't make a whole lot of putts," McGann said.
Lopez falters, too
Nancy Lopez finished the tournament at 4-over par with two rounds of 74. She missed the cut after three-putting the ninth hole which was also her final hole.
"I hit some good shots but never got anything close," Lopez said.
"The fans here are so sweet. They are one of the reasons this is one of my favorite tournaments," Lopez said. "I want to thank all of them for the support they have shown for me and the LPGA Tour."
Lopez will not play next week at the Sybase Big Apple Classic in New York. She plans on taking some time off to spend with her family.
jramson@vindy.com