DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Lisa Hall shot a 3-under 69 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Dubai Ladies Masters, the season-ending event on the Ladies European Tour.
Hall, with an 8-under 136 total, leads Laura Davies, who shot a 70. Overnight leader Louise Stahle of Sweden had a 74, slipping into a tie for third place on the Majlis Course at the Emirates Golf Club after needing 10 more shots than she did Thursday in her opening 64.
Annika Sorenstam tallied her second straight 70, but American star Natalie Gulbis (75) made an early exit, missing the cut of 6-over 150.
Earlier this season, the 40-year-old Hall won the Northern Ireland Ladies Open after an eight-hole playoff for her first win in 11 years. She won again at the Nykredit Masters in Denmark.
"The turnaround in form is down to a lot of things," Hall said. "A good caddie, good fortune, good work, a lot of effort, perseverance, enjoyment, perspective. ... It's been a long journey."
Davies closed with three straight birdies.
"It was a bit slow on the golf course, which threw us off a bit," Davies said. "But it was nice to finish the way I finished after a shaky start."
Hall, who now has her sights sets on becoming the first three-time winner on this season's Ladies European Tour, had half a dozen birdies in her 69. For 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 LPGA Tour before a complete loss of form forced her to spend a few years out of the game.
"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," she said. "But, whatever happens, it's been a very good season."
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 4 at the long 18th.
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