Davies disappointed by dire display

Laura Davies put on a brave face but is unlikely to repeat her European Tour experience after missing the cut at the ANZ Championship today by 22 points.

The former world number one, who became the first woman to compete in a European Tour event after being extended a controversial invitation, had set her sights on making the cut at Horizons and proving to her detractors she was worthy of a place in the field.

Ultimately, all she did was prove them right as she shot an 83 to finish the modified stableford event on minus 13 points.

Only Australian Shane Tait, who walked the last three holes with a back injury and signed for a score of minus 21 points, finished behind her.

Davies finished in 154th place, 40 points behind halfway leader Steve Webster.

“It just wasn’t to be, was it?” she said afterwards.

“You never say never but no, I wouldn’t accept if I was invited to play in another event.

“I still feel I could have done a hell of a lot better but I’m glad I did it, at least I had a go.

“I would rather have had a go and not made the cut and finished poorly than just to sit back and turn the invitation down because I would always have been wondering. Now I know.

“It is nice to try and challenge yourself. I don’t necessarily take it as failing, it’s just it didn’t work out on the week.

“I’m disappointed because it just proves right those people who said ’she shouldn’t play’.

“The unfortunate thing is that it was my first tournament for ages and my short play let me down. But I will head into my next tournament feeling pretty good about it.

“My irons have been good. I have struggled with pretty much every putt I had. I don’t think I hit a good putt in two days.”

Starting on minus one, what unlikely hopes she had of making the cut were dashed just two holes in when she picked her ball up to accept minus three points.

That was followed by nine bogeys in the remaining 16 holes as her dreams of matching the men were wrecked by a poor short game.

Casey, the defending champion, made a 10-shot improvement from his opening round, shooting a 63 containing 10 birdies and just one dropped shot for 19 points.

“I am very happy,” he said.

“I felt like I played some nice holes yesterday and I made quite a few birdies and an eagle but far too many mistakes.

“Today was the same sort of thing but without the mistakes, just the one dropped shot. After two rounds I am very happy with the position I am in.”

Levet drew level with a 14-point haul to finish one ahead of Peter O’Malley and Michael Campbell on 22.

Missing the cut along with Davies with scores of less than nine points were her two playing partners Jean van de Velde and Peter Senior.