Queen slips back in Melbourne

CLARE Queen tumbled down the leaderboard after a second-round 77 but is still probably going to be the only Scot in the final two rounds of the Handa Australian Women's Open in Melbourne.

Among those returning early this morning to finish their second round after play was suspended due to a thunderstorm brewing over the Commonwealth Golf Club is Carly Booth.

However, the Comrie player needs to cover her last six holes in three-under to climb above the cut mark, which looked as though it was going to fall at three-over-par.

After an opening 71, Queen found the going more difficult on her second circuit, the Carrick on Loch Lomond player signing for five bogeys and just one birdie as she dropped into a share of 48th on two-over.

Despite a spirited 73, 11 shots better than her opening effort, Kylie Walker missed out on 11-over, one less than Krystle Caithness was standing on with four holes to play when the horns sounded.

Vikki Laing was safely back in the clubhouse by then but rounds of 83 and 80 were not the start to the year last season's leading Scot on the Ladies' European Tour was looking for on her trip to Australia.

Defending champion Yani Tseng leads by two strokes on nine-under after a bogeyfree 67. Eun Hee Ji, the 2009 US Open champion, is on seven-under, tied second with overnight co-leader Jiyai Shin, who was on the 16th hole when play stopped.