Meg Mallon, who received about as much notice for a hole she conceded as she has for a string of LPGA victories, shot a 3-par 69 today to hang onto the Nabisco Dinah Shore lead.

Mallon was at 9-under 135, one shot ahead of Solheim Cup team-mate Dottie Pepper, at the midway point of the women's first major of the year.

Pepper had a 66, matching Mallon's first-round score.

Janice Moodie, a native of Scotland who played golf at San Jose State and is in her second LPGA season, went to 7-under with a 68 over the 6,460-yard Mission Hills Country Club course.

Juli Inkster shot a 66 to move within three shots of the lead. Kris Tschetter, two strokes behind Mallon beginning the round, shot a 70 that left her tied with Inkster.

Defending champion Pat Hurst, who is six months pregnant, struggled to a 74 after shooting 69 the first day, and was eight shots behind the leader.

Mallon, who has won two major titles, both in 1991, and 10 events in her career, gained attention last year for being a good sport, refusing to pile on the points against the Europeans in the Solheim Cup competition.

The U.S. team had already clinched the Cup against the Europeans in their matches last fall in Ohio, when Mallon, playing Sophie Gustafson in the final match, conceded the last hole, leaving them tied.

Mallon was on the back fringe and 1-up and Gustafson faced an 18-foot putt at the time.

That gracious gesture was mentioned often Thursday night during the Dinah Shore Tournament banquet when Mallon was presented an award voted by her peers to the player that "best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA."

So Mallon has had a couple of good days at the tournament, being honoured and playing fine golf.

She said after her steady second round that she hates to speak so was embarrassed at the banquet, but added, "I got to sit next to Mrs. Hope (Dolores Hope, wife of comedian Bob Hope) and she's so funny. I think she's funnier than her husband."

Mallon, who went to 9-under at No. 15, lost a stroke when she pulled a 5-iron left on No. 17. But she came back to make an 8-foot birdie putt on 18.

"I was determined to finish 9-under," she said. "I worked on my short game a lot earlier this week, and it paid off today. It was a hard day; the course was much more difficult than the first day.

"The wind was blowing some, and the greens were a whole lot firmer."

Pepper was asked about her play when she won the Dinah Shore in 1992.

"I chipped well, and I played the par 5s reasonably well," she said. "It takes not making a lot of mistakes."

Karrie Webb, coming off a victory at Phoenix that was her third in six 1999 starts, said heading into the Dinah Shore that she would be perfectly happy to finish at par, and that's were she was after two rounds. Webb shot a 73 after an opening 71 at Mission Hills Country Club.

Annika Sorenstam shot a 73 that put her at 143. Her sister, Charlotta, had a 68 that tied her with Helen Alfredsson at 140. Alfredsson shot a 71.