Davies shares lead after flurry of birdies

Great Britain’s Laura Davies claimed a share of the halfway lead after launching a second-round birdie spree at the ADT Tour Players’ Championship at West Palm Beach in Florida today.

With a run of seven birdies in nine holes from the seventh, Davies shot a 69 and was tied on two-under 142 with American Meg Mallon.

They were one ahead of another two Americans, Cristie Kerr and Rosie Jones, and South Korea’s Se Ri Pak. Annika Sorenstam, the defending champion, was in the next group on level par.

Davies, the 1998 champion, dropped two shots in the first three holes but then found her top form to raise her hopes of adding another title to the Australian Masters she won at the start of the year.

“This is a very hard test of golf so I didn’t get too upset when I made the poor start,” she said.

“I watched the television after my round yesterday and when you see players like Annika and Se Ri making bogeys you know you’ve just got to accept it.

“But my confidence is high, I’ve had a great recent run. But I’ve had six second places this year, so it would be lovely to win another one before the end of the season.”

In fact, it is almost two and a half years since Davies last won an LPGA title in America.

“It has been a long time, but I’m looking forward to the weekend. Winning is all that is on my mind.”

Davies’ putter was in hot form – her longest effort was from 40 feet for a three at the par-four 10th – while her long game was also on form as she reached the par-five ninth and 15th in two shots.

Mallon repeated her opening 71, while Jones had the low round of the tournament with a 67.

Sorenstam, the defending champion, also kept in touch. Despite three-putting the 16th from eight feet, she still shot 70 for 144.