England's Lisa Hall shot a second-round 69 to grab a one-shot lead from Laura Davies at the Dubai Ladies' Masters.
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England's Lisa Hall shot a second-round 69 to grab a one-shot lead from Laura Davies at the Dubai Ladies' Masters.
Hall had six birdies to move into position to challenge for a third European Tour title this year; she has already won the Ireland Ladies' Open and the Nykredit Masters in Denmark.
Davies birdied the last three holes for a 70 and finished one shot back on seven under.
First round leader Louise Stahle took 10 shots more than her opening course record 64 but was still in joint third place on six under, while former world number one Annika Sorenstam, the defending champion, was four off the lead on four under after a second successive 70.
Remarkable
For the 40-year-old Hall, a third win would complete a remarkable season. She won the 1996 Welsh Open in Europe, played in the Solheim Cup and then was named the 1997 Rookie of the Year on the US-based LPGA Tour before a complete loss of form forced her to spend a few years out of the game.
But the Florida-based golfer - she is married to English professional Martin Hall - returned to the European circuit last year, and has already won twice.
"It has been a very long journey," said Hall, who is originally from Stoke-on-Trent. "It's the mixture of a lot of things - including hard work and perseverance. But I'm happy I've learned to play the way I do now.
"A win here would be great and I've now got two more rounds to end the year before I fly back to Florida for Christmas. But, whatever happens, it's been a very good season."
Move
Davies, who won the Austrian Open in September, is seeking the 69th win of her long career and she made her move with long birdie putts at the 16th and 17th and then an easy two-putt four at the long 18th.
"I made a bit of a shaky start and it was so slow that it was difficult to get into a rhythm," said the 44-year-old Englishwoman. "But it was a very good finish."
American Solheim Cup star Natalie Gulbis is heading home. Gulbis - one of the poster girls of the LPGA Tour - shot 77 and 75 for eight over par and missed the cut by a shot.
