Webster leads while Davies misses cut

Briton Steve Webster fired another six-under-par 66 to lead the ANZ Championship by one point on Friday after his compatriot Laura Davies missed the cut on her European men's tour debut.

England's Webster carded +13 points on Friday with seven birdies and one bogey at the Horizons Golf Resort near Newcastle, about 200 kms north of Sydney.

The 29-year-old, seeking his maiden win on the European Tour, was on +27 points in the modified stableford system that rewards attacking golf.

Australia's overnight leader Nick O'Hern was second on +26 points after the Perth left-hander shot a 69 and added eight points to his first round tally of +18.

Title holder Paul Casey fired a nine-under-par 63 including 10 birdies and one bogey to edge within four points of the lead on +23 points, alongside France's Thomas Levet who carded +14 points in his 65 on Friday.

Australia's Peter O'Malley (+10) and New Zealand's Michael Campbell (+11) were equal fifth on +22 points.

Webster said that after missing the cut in last week's Heineken Classic in Melbourne he went back to the driving range on Saturday for a four-hour lesson with 1991 U.S. Masters winner Welshman Ian Woosnam.

"I probably owe him a lot at the moment," said Webster. "He got me hitting it really well. I was swinging terribly and he told me that. It gave me a bit of a kick up the (pants) and here I am."

With modified stableford players receive eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, none for a par, minus one for a bogey and minus three for a multiple bogey.

Britain's Davies, the first woman to compete in an Australasian or European men's tour event, had rounds of 75 and 83 for a total of 14-over-par 158 and -13 points.

The 40-year-old former women's world number one beat only one player, Australia's injured Shane Tait, who finished on -21 points and carded rounds of 78 and 84 after suffering a back problem late in his second round.

"I'd rather have had a go then not made the cut and finished poorly than just sat back and turned the invitation down because I'd have already been wondering but now I know," said Davies.

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