Golf: Davies rues poor finish

LAURA DAVIES, twice a winner of the LPGA Championship, again displayed her affection for the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, by firing a superb first-round 65 as English players mounted a spirited challenge.

Davies finished one shot behind the American Rosie Jones, who took advantage of warm and calm conditions on Thursday with eight birdies in her 64, while Trish Johnson and Alison Nicholas were in a group of six tied for third place on 67.

Davies, however, thought her round could have been even better having covered the first eight holes in six under par, when a possible 59 was on the cards. "It should have been 60 or 61 at the very worst and it could have been 59," she said. "The way I was hitting the ball anything was possible. But after the first eight holes I just couldn't make a putt."

Johnson also had a handful of birdies as she maintained the form that saw her finish second to Se Ri Pak in the ShopRite Classic last weekend. Defending champion Pak also kept in touch on 68, but Australia's Karrie Webb, the world No 1 and five times a winner this season, had a disappointing 72.