Australian Karrie Webb carded a two-under-par 70 to move up into the top 10 and into contention at the halfway mark of the Honda LPGA Thailand.

Webb, now ranked No.7 in the world on the Rolex Ranking is just three shots back from Swede Anna Nordqvist, who carded an even par round to lead at six-under-par.

Three players, Spaniard Azahara Munoz, Germany’s Sandra Gal and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada are just one back. Americans Stacy Lewis and Michelle Wie are a further shot adrift and share fifth position. Webb is tied for seventh with South Korean So Yeon Ryu and Americans Jennifer Johnson and Angela Stanford.

The Queenslander got off to a rocky start with a bogey at the first, however that proved to be her only blemish of the day, she birdied the 4th, 9th and 10th holes to sign for a 70 on the Pattaya Old Course at Siam Country Club.

Webb is continuing her great form from last week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.

Nordqvist said tricky hole locations on Friday kept things interesting on the greens. The Swede was pleased overall with her round which included three birdies and three bogeys.

“There were some tough pins out there,” said Nordqvist. “A lot of them were on ridges, and I felt like I hit a lot of good shots and kept spinning off the ridges. Not much you can do. Felt like I hit it solid. A little disappointed to finish with a bogey on the last. Overall been hitting it great this week. Today I felt like all things were good. Just couldn`t get any putts to drop.”

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park shot her second-consecutive 71 on Friday and sits in a tie for 11th. No. 2 Suzann Pettersen (69-73) and No. 4 Lydia Ko (72-70) are alongside Park at 2-under par and four shots off the lead.

Katherine Kirk is the only other Australian in the field this week, she is at six-over and tied for 48th after consecutive rounds of 75.