Davies on course for fifth English Open

ENGLAND’S Laura Davies bagged the birdies and dodged the bad weather as she set her sights on a fifth Ladies’ English Open title with a first-round 67 yesterday at Chart Hills in Kent.

Out early in her first home appearance this season, Davies had a flawless five-birdie round to finish in joint second place, two shots behind American Katie Bakken and alongside Finland’s Minea Blomqvist.

Karen Stupples, the Weetabix Women’s British Open Champion, was also well-placed on 70, while Trish Johnson and Nicola Moult made it a clutter of English players in the mix as they both finished on 68.