Davies one shot off the lead in Japan

Davies, 50, who was made a Dame and inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year, and who is pictured here in some great ladies' knitwear , went round in four under par and her 68 was only beaten by American Morgan Pressel.

There were just two blemishes on Davies' card and but for a mishap on the last she would have been tied for the lead after Friday's first round.

Pressel didn't drop a shot and she went round in 67. She recorded two birdies on the front nine (5th and 7th) and three more on the back nine (13th, 15th, 16th).

Chella Choi of Korea is joint second with Davies, while Stacy Lewis, the second best lady golfer in the world at the moment, is three shots back. Catriona Matthew, from Scotland is a further stroke behind Lewis.

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