Davies won four times in a row in the 1990s

Davies was nine under overall, one shot behind Grace Park and two adrift of a quartet of players - Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak, Annika Sorenstam and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc - after two rounds at Moon Valley.

The 39-year-old Davies, who opened with a 69, eagled the first - the long 10th - and added six birdies and two bogies.

Sorenstam, who shot an historic 59 over the same course to win the title two years ago, fired a 66.

Meanwhile, Webb carded 67, overnight leader Pak signed for 68 and Meunier-Lebouc also went round in 66.

R2 leaderboard -11 Karrie Webb (Aus), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (Fra) -10 Grace Park (Kor) -9 Laura Davies (Gbr)

Sorenstam won 13 times around the world last year and she has already set herself a new challenge for this year by accepting an invitation to play in the Bank of America Colonial on the men's PGA Tour in May.

"This season's already going a little better than I expected, she said.

"Not just golf-wise, but everything round about it. Mentally and physically I feel very, very strong."

Davies, who won the title four years in a row from 1994-97, has also had an encouraging start to the season with a win and two seconds in Australia.

She was just outside the top 10 in last week's first LPGA event in Tucson.