Jennifer Rosales(R) and Dorothy Delasin (AFP)
Dorothy Delasin and Jennifer Rosales of the Philippines made up six shots in the last three holes of the foursomes Saturday to draw level with overnight leaders Korea here at the Women's World Cup of golf.
The two nations share the lead on 11-under-par 133 going into Sunday's final round, with Taiwan's Amy Hung and Yun Jye Wei lying third on 135.
Koreans Ji-Yai Shin and Eun Hee Ji were three under par for their round Saturday and 14 under for the tournament - following their fabulous 61 on day one in the opening bestball round - when they arrived on the 17th tee at Gary Player Country Club.
But, under the pressure-packed alternate shot format, Ji drove into a water hazard, Shin tried without success to hit the ball out of a muddy lie and the pair were then forced to take a penalty drop.
Their fourth shot ended up just short of the green and they three-putted from there for a very unwelcome triple-bogey seven at this par-four.
Korea played the last three holes in 15 shots while Delasin and Rosales, who finished the round with three straight birdies, took just nine.
"We made a real mess of one hole but apart from that we've played really well for this whole tournament and we're still confident we can win here," said 19-year-old Shin, who has collected a record 10 victories in her last 19 starts in tournaments in Korea.
Delasin and Rosales said the key to their day's best score of 68 was staying out of the fearsome rough that lines the fairways at this bushveld course.
"If you can't hit your drives straight here you won't score well but both of us were nice and straight today," explained Delasin.
If it was an excellent day for teams from the East, the same cannot be said for France - who with their 62 were just one off the pace and in lone second spot after the first round.
Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement stumbled to a 76 Saturday to slip back into a tie for fifth place on 138 with Wales and Japan and one behind Canada in this 20-nation event.
Pre-tournament favourites Sweden had an even worse day. European No 1 in 2007, Sophie Gustafson, and her partner Maria Hjorth, who opened with a 65 in Friday's bestball, carded six bogeys Saturday en route to a 77 to move back from joint fourth overnight into a tie for 13th on 142.
The highly-rated United States team of seven-times Major champion Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst also had a poor day, their 76 for 141 putting them in a share of 10th place.
Defending champions Paraguay - Julieta Granada and Celeste Troche are back to defend their title - are alone in eighth place on 139 following a 73.
© 2008 AFP/sid
