Bianca Pagdanganan came through with a four-under-par 68 on Friday to enter the second half of the Honda LPGA Thailand just five shots off the leaders.
The Filipina is now at shared 24th following birdies on the Nos. 1, 3, 7, 15 and 18 as she appeared to have finally found her groove, committing only one bogey at Par 4 sixth hole.
At 139, she chases a triple-headed leadership in Madeline Sagstrom of Sweden, Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Sei Young Kim of South Korea who all pooled 134s after two rounds.
Sagstrom fired a five-under-par 67 to tame the Siam Country Club Old Course in Chonburi.
There is no cut in the $1.7-million tourney which is only the third event of the LPGA this season.
Pagdanganan, 26, debuting the season, hit the fairways 11 times of 14, and landed the green in regulation in 15 of 18 occasions. She carded a 71 in the opening round.
Two-time major winner Brooke Henderson of Canada, one of the most followed in the meet, shot an even-par 70 for 137 total and shared 10th place.
Defending champion Lilia Vu of the United States recovered from a shaky opening round to post a 67 for 140 total and a joint 30th place.
Yuka Saso, the Philippine-born Japanese, is at T17 despite a 69 that gave her 138.
