Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko has slipped slightly off the pace but is still within sight of the leaders, after her second round at the Saudi Ladies International.
Starting her day in a two-way share of the lead, Ko fired a two-under-par 70 to drop to a three-way tie for third with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall and Linnea Strom.
The Tokyo Olympics bronze-medallist is at seven-under overall, two shots behind leader Alice Hewson from England. Hewson catapulted herself up the leaderboard with a second round 64.
After calm weather in her opening round of 67, Ko had to contend with blustery conditions at the Royal Greens course. She birdied five holes in through her round mixed with three bogeys.
Part of the Ladies' European Tour, the Saudi Arabia event has prizemoney of US$1 million (NZ$1.4m) at stake.
Making her debut in Saudi Arabia, Ko will contest this week's event and then return to the United States for the Pelican Women's Championship.
She had planned on playing two events in Saudi Arabia, which would have conflicted with the LPGA event in Florida. Ko needs to play in both of the tour's final two tournaments to have enough rounds to qualify for the Vare Trophy.
She is currently first in line to win the award, which goes to the player with the lowest seasonal scoring average on tour.