Tristan Jones/LET
Esther Henseleit in action during the second round at Emirates Golf Club.

By Kent Gray
Germany’s Esther Henseleit has made the most significant morning charge on moving day at the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic.

A second round 66, six-under, on the Faldo course at Emirates Golf Club has moved the 20-year-old into a share of the lead at –9 alongside last week’s Lalla Meryem Cup champion Nuria Iturrios after the Spaniard carded a 68.

Overnight leader Leona Maguire has slipped four shots off pace following a 75 – a score 11 shots worse than her course–record 64 on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Irishwoman is currently 4th on –5 for the championship.

German Olivia Cowan occupies third place on –8 after adding a 70 to her opening 66.

Henseleit, who is chasing her maiden Ladies European Tour victory, had been eight under par through 15 holes of her second round but a double bogey on the Faldo’s par-3 17th, when she dumped her tee shot into a bunker and three putted after splashing out, curtailed the German’s momentum with Maguire’s course record in her sights.

The afternoon shotgun group – the other half of the 56 pros playing this week’s Pro-Am, head out for their second rounds at 3pm. Stay tuned to Golf Digest Middle East for full coverage of the $285,000 Ladies European Tour event.