GIANT EAGLE MONEY LEADERS Green's comeback play holds onto money lead

The Ohioan is the only leader who has played in all 13 events here.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Last year, two-time Giant Eagle LPGA Classic champion Tammie Green struggled in the tournament's opening round shooting a 5-over-par 76.
But the Ohio native came back with back-to-back 7-under-par 65s to finish in a tie for fifth place and held onto her lead in the tournament's overall money leaders list.
Green, the only player among the top 40 money winners in the tournament who has played in all 13 of the events held here, leads the standings with $409,696.
Delasin runner-up
Runner-up honors goes to two-time champion Dorothy Delasin, who won this event on her first try in 2000 and then repeated as champion in 2001. Last year she made another big comeback and finished tied for third place.
In just three tries Delasin has won $358,750 and her and Green hold over a $100,000 edge over third place Se Ri Pak, who has won $244,417 in five tournament here. Pak finished in a tie for 41st place last season.
Defending Champion Mi Hyun Kim, who posted a 14-under-par 202 total last year at Squaw Creek Country Club, is in fourth place with $238,940 in four tournaments.
Green, who won both her tournaments (1994 and 1997) when the event was held at Avalon Lakes Golf Course, has only missed one cut in the 13 events she has played here. That one came in 1999.
Besides her two victories she has one runner-up (2001), one third (1991) one fourth and a tie for fifth.
The 10 different winners of the 13 tournaments are all ranked among the top 13 career money winners here.
Kelly Robbins, who finished second to Kim last year, and Dottie Pepper, who has played here 10 times, are the only two non-winners ranked among the top 10.
Robbins is fifth with $211,872 in nine tournaments, while Pepper has won $199,109 and ranks seventh.
McGann ranks sixth
The tournament's only other two-time champion Michelle McGann ranks sixth with $203,364 in winnings, while she has missed the cut in the last two events. She has played in 12 of the 13 tournaments here, missing only the inaugural event in 1990.
The other former champions and their rankings include Jackie Gallagher-Smith (1999) is eighth, Deb Richard (1991) is ninth, Nancy Lopez (1993) is 10th, Betsy King (1992) is 12th and Beth Daniels (1990) is 13th.
Pat Hurst, runner-up in 2000 to Delasin, ranks 11th with $143,691.
This tournament was first played at Squaw Creek Country Club from 1990-92 and then moved to Avalon Lakes from 1993-2000. The tournament returned to Squaw Creek in 2001.
Delasin is the only LPGA professional to have won the title on each of the two courses winning at Avalon Lakes in 2000 and Squaw Creek in 2001.