A second-round 72 left county Down's Oliva Mehaffey sitting just outside the top 20 at the Cambia Portland Classic.
The tournament is over for Stephanie Meadow, however, as a round of 78 left her on nine over par, three shots outside the cut line.
Mehaffey is one over par and nine shots off South Korea's Jin Young Ko, who is looking for her second LPGA victory of the season.
It was an eventful round for the Irish golfer as her card included an eagle, three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.
Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh finished day one in a three-way share of the lead after a four-under 68 but lost her position in completing 15 holes on day two even with the card, with birdies at the ninth and 12th offset by bogeys on eight and 13.
But the 28-year-old recovered with a spectacular finish featuring a birdie three at the 16th, a two at the short 17th, and a four on the par-five closing hole to sit in second place at seven under for the tournament.
She was a stroke behind South Korea's Ko, who followed an opening 69 with a 67, and two in advance of third-placed Carlota Ciganda of Spain, who stumbled slightly in blustery conditions at Oregon Golf Club with a 71 after sharing the first-round lead.
The other first-round co-leader, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn, managed an even-par 72 on Friday to wind up at four under.
