Another Aussie takes the Overall lead after Day Two

Sarah Jane Smith is in the spotlight right now as the halfway leader of the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.

The 32-year-old, born in Geelong was brilliant with a second-round 67 in conditions that were less than the snack that was handed to the morning players on Thursday.

"I played pretty similar yesterday but just made a couple of mistakes," Smith said.

"Today I made a couple of good saves on 10, holed a nice little putt on 11 too, so it sort of kept the round going, whereas yesterday I made a couple of soft double bogeys in a row, so it put a bit of a stuff to the round."

Smith has put herself in a strong position to win despite remebering being in a similar position in Mexico when some nerves crept in on the last hole.

"I think I’ve just got control my nerves," Smith said.

"I was in contention in Mexico at the end of the year and Saturday kind of got the best of me. I managed to get out of the round but I think shot even a 1-under, but it was a struggle.

"I actually said to Duane on the last hole, I said, “Get me out of here”, I wanted to get off the golf course and settle down for a little bit.

"But Sunday I felt like I learned from it and kind of relaxed a little more and had a good day, so I’m hoping that I’ve learned from that and can relax a little bit and continue doing what I’ve been doing."

The experienced Karrie Webb, 42, missed the cut for the first time in her 21-year Australian Open history, finishing at three over, the same place at which she started the day.

High-profile American Michelle Wie remains in the hunt at five under despite battling a back injury that required treatment throughout – and after – her round.

World No.1 Lydia Ko, apparently out of sorts with her new clubs, coach and caddie, made the cut by the barest margin and is nine shots from the lead.

World No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn also has some work to do at two under, while South Korea's Ha Na Jang (three under) is vaguely in the mix, while Canada's Brook Henderson, the world No.8, made a putt of more than a metre for bogey at the 18th to make the cut.

Play resumes tomorrow at 7am (Australian Central Daylight Time) at Royal Adelaide from 7.20amwith the final group off at 1.30pm featuring Smith and Phatlum.

Images- Andrew Frackowski