Karis Davidson shapes as the Australian most likely to win the women's Vic Open after mixing some bad luck with a late stroke of good fortune during the second round.
Playing in the difficult afternoon conditions as the wind whipped around Thirteenth Beach, Davidson was content to sign for a second round of one-over 73.
It left the first-round pacesetter in outright third at six-under 139, a shot behind co-leaders Min A Yoon from South Korea and Japan's Shina Kanazawa, with two rounds to play.
"It was really tough out there, you just have to really use your imagination and I felt like I got a little bit unlucky on a couple of holes," said 25-year-old Davidson, who retained full LPGA Tour playing rights after a solid rookie year in 2023.
"On the 14th my putt horse-shoed right out and I thought I'd holed it.
"And then on another hole I got a bad kick.
"But everyone was in the same boat and I just feel happy that I made a few birdies out there because it was really hard going."
Davidson's day took a turn for the good on the par-five 18th, when an ill-conceived second shot bounced out of a fairway bunker, setting her up for an easy closing par.
"I don't know why (I did that)," she said.
"I was trying to hit a three-quarter three-wood and then after I hit it I was like 'why not just hit a full one?'
"So that was a good bit of luck and will make up for that horse shoe."
Davidson has twice finished runner-up at the Vic Open - to compatriots and major winners Minjee Lee in 2018 and Hannah Green in 2022.
"It's probably been my time for a few years now," she said.
"If it happens, it happens.
"If it doesn't, it doesn't."
Davidson will play in the final group in the third round with co-leaders Yoon and Kanazawa, both of whom shot 68s on Friday.
Yoon's previous victory on the WPGA Tour Australasia came last year at the TPS Victoria at Rosebud, when she joined Green and Sweden's Linn Grant as only the third woman to win a 72-hole professional mixed gender event.
"Whenever I come to Australia I'm so comfortable, it feels like I'm home," said Yoon.
"Ever since I was young I've played in Australia.
"I've played many tournaments here and I have a lot of good memories here."
Singapore's Shannon Tan (72) was in outright fourth at five-under, a stroke clear of Britain's Kylie Henry (72) and former world No.1 and defending Vic Open champ Jiyai Shin from South Korea (70).
Seven-time major winner Karrie Webb shot back-to-back rounds of 75 to make the halfway cut with a shot to spare.
