Davies shoots course record

England’s Laura Davies fired a course-record nine-under-par 62 and is one shot behind leaders Annika Sorenstam and Juli Inkster at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Davies, who shot even-par 71 in the first round, is at nine-under 133 as she chases her first LPGA Tour victory since the 2001 Rochester International.

Davies got it going early on the 6,071-yard Seaview Resort Bay Course, knocking a four-iron to six feet on the par-five third hole for an eagle. She followed that up with three consecutive birdies, none shorter than 15 feet.

A birdie on the par-four eighth and a par at the ninth gave the 41-year-old big hitter a sizzling 30 on the front nine.

Sorenstam shot a 65, highlighted by five birdies on the back nine. She started with birdies on numbers three and four and started her back nine with her lone bogey, missing a three-footer for par.

The Swedish star responded with birdies from eight feet on 12, seven feet on 13 and 10 feet on the par-three 14th. She chipped to six feet on the par-five 16th and holed that for birdie and another fine chip shot on the par-five 18th led to a five-foot birdie and a share of the lead.

Inkster is hoping the 20th anniversary of event brings the same result as the initial tournament. The first winner in this event, Inkster had a two-stroke lead entering the second round and signed for a second-round 67.

An errant drive on the second led to her only bogey of the round, but she bounced back with three consecutive birdies starting on the fourth hole. On the back nine, a sand wedge to 13 feet led to a birdie at the 13th and she fired another sand wedge to six feet on 17 for her final birdie.

Pat Hurst fired a 64 and is alone in fourth at seven-under 135. Scot Catriona Matthew shot 66 and is another shot back.

Defending champion Cristie Kerr shot a 66 and is in a five-way tie for eighth at 140.