Davies is seeking to win her third Evian title

R1 LEADERBOARD:
-6 S Waugh (Aus), M Kim (Kor), L Ochoa (Mex)
-5 K Webb (Aus)
-4 M Hjorth (Swe), L Davies (Eng), S Pak (Kor)
Selected others:
-3 A Sorenstam (Swe), M Wie (US)
-2 P Creamer (US)

Laura Davies birdied the final two holes to card a four-under 68 and claim a share of fifth place after the first round of the Evian Masters in France.

The Englishwoman, who has won the event twice, trails the leaders by two.

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, Australian Shani Waugh and South Korean Mi Hyun Kim head the field on six-under 66, a shot ahead of Australia's Karrie Webb.

World number one Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie are in a group on 69 and 2005 champion Paula Creamer is on 68.

Davies, who won the event in 1995 and 1996 but has not had a victory since 2004, had complained about the heat after Tuesday's Pro-am.

But she showed her resilience on Wednesday with a brilliant finish, holing a 15-foot putt at the short 17th and one from close range at the long 18th.

"I made a couple of stupid bogeys with a sand wedge but, overall, I played well and am very happy," said the 42-year-old.

I felt I played better than I scored but three under is OK for the first round Annika Sorenstam

The 16-year-old Wie finished in even more stunning fashion by downing a 45-foot eagle putt at the last.

"It was great to end on a good note," said the Hawaiian teenager. "I made a good start (three birdies in first six holes) and altogether it was a pretty solid round."

On her previous outing - at the John Deere Classic on the men's PGA Tour in America - Wie was forced to pull out in the second round because of heat exhaustion.

But she took no chances this time with temperatures hitting 33C at Evian-les-Bains.

"I drank a lot of water and had an umbrella for shade," she added.

Sorenstam, who took the title in 2000 and 2002 and is fresh from her third US Women's Open victory, also had an eagle at the ninth.

"I felt I played better than I scored but three under is OK for the first round," she said.

England's Kirsty Taylor was well-placed on 71, but the other four Britons were down the field.

Rebecca Hudson was on 74, Scot Catriona Matthew had a 75, Trish Johnson was on 76 and Karen Stupples, the 2005 Women's British Open Champion, slumped to a 78.