ANZ CH'SHIP LEADERBOARD 18 Nick O'Hern (Aus) 16 John Bickerton (Eng) 14 Nick Flanagan (Aus) 13 Peter Hedblom (Swe) Collated scores

The former world number one was joint 81st midway through the day after recording two birdies and five bogeys.

She scored -1 at the Port Stephens course in the modified stableford system that rewards attacking golf.

Players receive eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle and two for a birdie.

"Minus one to the field looks terrible, to the guys who are shooting 18 points, but in a way I am quite pleased with it," said Davies.

"I have given myself a chance if I have a really good day tomorrow to make the cut.

"If I can get seven or eight points tomorrow I can make the cut. If I was -10 I would be out of it."

The trouble is for these guys it's an ordinary event Laura Davies

Davies finished level with playing partner Jean van der Velde and a point ahead of New Zealander Mahal Pearce, a top-10 finisher at the Heineken Classic.

Of the title contenders, Australia's Nick O'Hern led the way on 18 points after shooting an eight-under-par 64.

"I really lit up on my front nine," said O'Hern, who started on the 10th.

"I just went at every flag. I think you have really got to go after things and if you make a bogey it is only one point lost which doesn't hurt too much."

England's John Bickerton lies two back on +16, four up on Australian Nick Flanagan, the US amateur champion.

Davies, 40, is the latest female player to make a high-profile appearance against her male counterparts.

Fourteen-year-old Michelle Wie narrowly failed to become the first female to make the cut in a men's PGA Tour event at last month's Hawaiian Open.

Sweden's Annika Sorenstam became the first female in 58 years to play a PGA Tour event at the Colonial in May 2003.