A SECOND successive 68 left Scotland’s Kelsey MacDonald in a strong position at the halfway stage of the Omega Dubai Ladies Classic.
The 27-year-old heads into the third round two shots behind Holland’s Anne van Dam after mixing six birdies with two bogeys on Thursday.
Early starter Van Dam produced a flawless 65 at Emirates Golf Club on day two to move to 10 under par and open up a commanding lead.
MacDonald, who began the day in a tie for second, bounced back from a bogey at the short 11th - her second hole - with four consecutive birdies from the 15th to move into contention in the afternoon.
The Scot then carded two birdies and a single bogey on her back nine to get to eight under par and cut Van Dam’s advantage to two strokes.
England’s Georgia Hall is among the group in a tie for third on seven under following her second-round 67.
Meanwhile, South African Keenan Davidse overcame illness to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Joburg Open.
The local favourite missed the cut in Mauritius last week as a flu virus ran through his family, and checked himself into hospital for four days before teeing it up at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg.
The 28-year-old showed no ill effects as he got round the Bushwillows Course in an eight under par 63 to lead the way from English duo Matthew Baldwin and James Morrison, South African trio Jared Harvey, Ockie Strydom and Erik van Rooyen, and German Sebastian Heisele.
A field of 240 were split over the Bushwillows and Firethorn courses, with all players playing the longer Firethorn over the weekend after the cut.
Davidse took advantage of his round on the shorter layout, birdieing the first, fourth, fifth, eighth, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th with a single bogey on the sixth.
“I didn’t really have any expectations coming into the week. I’m just out here to have fun, so I’m very blessed to be playing well. It’s always nice leading a big tournament and especially the Joburg Open.”
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