China's Feng Shanshan five clear at Dubai Ladies Masters

Dubai (AFP) - China's Feng Shanshan shot a six-under par 66 in the penultimate round of the Dubai Ladies Masters on Friday to stay on course for a second title in three years at the season-ending championship of the Ladies European Tour.

The world number five moved to 17-under par for the tournament, five clear of second-placed Melissa Reid of England, who showed welcome signs of a return to form in a bogey-free round of seven-under par 65, the best card of the day at the Emirates Golf Club.

England?s 18-year-old Charley Hull, the current Order of Merit leader recovered from a sticky patch in the middle of her round to notch a 69.

Hull was tied for third place at 10-under par alongside Anna Nordqvist (68) and 2012 European number one Carlota Ciganda of Spain (66).

Hull is seven shots behind Feng, but she is three shots ahead of France?s Gwladys Nocera, the only player this week who can stop her from winning the Order of Merit crown.

Feng, who started with a birdie and made an eagle on the third hole when she struck her second shot to a foot from the pin, made her only bogey of the day when she hit her tee shot into the water on the fourth hole.

- Pressure -

"I think I did pretty well," Feng said. "I started very well but I think Charley definitely gave me a lot of pressure for the first 10 holes.

Reid, who has not won a tournament since 2012, was delighted with her brilliant round.

"It's been a long time coming,? said the 27-year-old. "I worked actually a week with my coach, Kevin Craggs, at Saadiyat, and I think we just found kind of the missing ingredient. So it was nice to put it into play."

And Hull was satisfied with her round, despite a triple bogey on the par-four 12th.

"I?m actually really happy to be honest. I got off to a fast start and I was three under through 10 holes, and just lost a little bit of concentration for two holes," said the world number 38.

"I fought back after making a triple and a bogey with three birdies after that, so I'm really proud of myself for doing that."