South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace may be eight shots off the lead in the Dubai Ladies Masters golf tournament, but she is on course to finish at the top in Europe.
Pace shot a 72 yesterday in the second round for a total of 145, behind leader Lydia Hall, who leads on 137.
But Pace's only rival for the No1 spot on Europe's order of merit, Laura Davies, is already out of the running, having shot 75 and 73 for 148. She needed to finish at least second to threaten Pace.
Hall, 23, of Wales, shot a five-under 67 to take a one-shot lead over Sweden's Anna Nordqvist.
Hall has never finished better than sixth on the Ladies European Tour and was in eighth place after the first round. But she carded a 31 on the front nine, including five birdies, to move up the leader board at the season-ending tournament.
She went into the water on the ninth hole and then three-putted on 10 for another bogey before settling down to birdie her final two holes and regain the lead.
"I just played really solid, approaches within 15 feet on the front nine," said Hall, who is ranked 396th in the world. "I was really pleased. I made a couple of mistakes on nine and 10 and three-putted on 10. I kind of refocused and made a good putt and kept doing it."
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