Australians Corie Huo and amateur Ellen Davies-Graham are still in the top 30 heading into the third round of the first stage of the LPGA Qualifying School.

Hou, who was one of six players to share the lead after the opening round, carded a 77 on the Palmer course at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. Hou is at one-over-par and tied for 25th position. Davies-Graham is also at one-over after rounds of 72 and 73.

Belgium’s Laura Gonzalez-Escallon sits alone at the top on 9-under-par after a second round of 67 on the Palmer course. Gonzalez-Escallon, an amateur, sat in a six-way tie after Tuesday’s first round and managed to separate herself from the rest of the field after carding six birdies and one bogey on the Palmer Course.

“I feel like the difference is in your irons,” said Gonzalez-Escallon of playing the Palmer Course. “You have to be a bit more precise and you cannot short side yourself. But today I was hitting my irons a little bit better. I got off to a great start on the front-nine and shot 4-under. Then the chip-in on the final hole got me really excited for the rest of the week.”

China`s Yueer Cindy Feng continued her steady progression this week posting another 2-under 70 to put herself in a tie for second along with Symetra Tour rookie Erica Popson at 4-under 140.

First-round co-leader Cheyenne Woods shot 1-over 73 to drop into a tie for fourth along with Philippines Mia Piccio.

No cut was made following the conclusion of the second round. All players who completed 72 holes will receive Symetra Tour status for the 2014 season.

New South Wales Adriana Brent carded a second round of 73 to be at eight-over-par tied for 129th, while amateur Lauren Hibbert is at further shot back and tied for 139th position.

This week, the Palmer and Dinah Shore courses will be played twice by each player. Third round pairings will be determined by score with the lowest scores teeing off on Palmer while the higher scores will play Dinah Shore. Groups will switch courses and be re-paired based on score for Friday’s final round.

The top-100 players at the end of the week will advance to the second stage of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., and will unfold October 8-11, 2013. The top 80 and ties from Stage II will advance into the Final Qualifying Tournament.

Stage III of LPGA Q-School will be contested over 90 holes Dec. 4-8, at the LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. Top finishers in the final stage will earn 2014 LPGA membership (total number of cards TBD) and all others who make the cut will receive Symetra Tour status.