Nicholas in hot pursuit

Laura Davies and Alison Nicholas produced a flurry of birdies and eagles in the second round of the Evian Masters here yesterday, writes Bill Johnson from Evian, France.

Davies, the undisputed World No 1, came in with a 67 for a nine-under- par halfway aggregate of 135 and will start today's third round two strokes clear of Nicholas and Sweden's Catrin Nilsmark.

Davies and Nicholas have proved themselves a formidable partnership in three Solheim Cup matches against the United States but yesterday they wrote another chapter in their keen rivalry.

It was Nicholas who set the target with a round of 66 to break the day- old course record. She birdied three of her opening six holes. Davies compiled six birdies and an eagle in her 67.

Scores, Sporting Digest, page 39