Confident Davies makes 'perfect start' in Australia

Published on Thursday 11 March 2010 21:26

LAURA Davies opened the defence of her Handa Women's Australian Open title with a leaderboard-topping five-under-par 68 yesterday.

The four-time major winner shot six birdies and one bogey at the Commonwealth Golf Club to establish a two-shot lead over a group of six players.

"I putted well last week, but I did not hole anything. When you have two eight or nine-footers for par and they go straight in the middle, that's the sort of thing that keeps me going. I had a really short one, a tap-in, on seven," Davies said. "I've come here in a confident mood, thinking I am one of the players with a chance to win if I play well – today is a perfect start."

In the six-way tie for second, Yang Soo-jin of South Korea, Giulia Sergas of Italy, Jenni Kuosa of Finland, England's Felicity Johnson, and Rebecca Flood of Australia and her amateur compatriot Alison Whitaker, all hit 70s.

Alexis Thompson, the 15-year-old American amateur who played in the US Open at the age of 12, shot 71 and was in a group tied for eighth. Karrie Webb, who won last week's Australian Ladies Masters and is a four-time Open champion, shot 73. Playing the tougher back nine first, Webb had three bogeys before making the turn and then posted four birdies and a bogey to remain even on the day.

Former amateur star Amanda Blumenherst, who led the Australian Masters after the first two rounds, shot 77, while fellow American Christina Kim had a 78.