Munt stays ahead in Oz

Australia's Alison Munt fired a battling one under par 71 over the Yarra Yarra GC today to open a two shot lead at the halfway mark of the AAMI Women's Australian Open.

Munt, who started with four birdies in the first six holes, tops the leaderboard on eight under par 136 from compatriot Corinne Dibnah and the fast improving Marine Monnet of France, while European number one Sophie Gustafson shares fourth spot on five under with Jane Crafter of Australia and Germany's Elisabeth Esterl.

One ahead at the start of the day, Munt quickly reproduced the form that had enabled her to card a 65 in the opening round, and by the seventh hole she had moved to 11 under thanks to birdies at the second, third, fifth and sixth.

But she was unable to maintain her momentum after the turn, and three bogeys on the back nine, along with one on the seventh, saw her lead reduced to two at the end of the day.

"I suppose you could say I got a bit wobbly on the back nine, but I knew it was going to be a long, hard day out there and I played well - I'm still pretty pleased with how it all went," said Munt, a two-time winner in Europe last year and tied for seventh last week in the ANZ Ladies Masters.

"There are still a few positives I can take out of today, even though I bogeyed a few holes coming in. I worked hard mentally. It could have gone even worse than it did - it could have gone the other way and I worked hard. "It was hot, and I had to work hard from the beginning because I was leading. Mentally I had a very tough, hard working day and I got tired towards the end. I had to work hard otherwise I would have blown right out.

"As I said yesterday, there are a few things I'm working on with my coach, and at the end when I got tired it broke down a bit. Now I'll go back to the range and try to get it back to where it was and go on from there." While she was reluctant to admit it, Munt will be keeping a close eye a chasing pack that includes world number one Karrie Webb on four under and Laura Davies a further shot adrift.

"I don't think I'll be too daunted - I don't think you'd tee it up if you felt daunted by them" added Munt when referring to Webb and Davies.

"I'm enjoying it. Even though it was a tough day, I enjoyed it. I enjoy the challenge of leading."

Monnet moved into contention after posting a three under par 69 that included five birdies, her last coming on the par five 18th. The 22-year-old Parisian is still in the hunt for her first Evian Tour title after finishing top-10 in no fewer than nine tournaments last season, including seventh at this event.

"I'm very happy because last weekend I didn't hit the ball too good," said Monnet, third last season on the Evian Order of Merit.

"But I've done a lot of work with my caddie Terry (Munday) and it's a lot better. I had a great group today, playing with Sophie (Gustafson) and Jane (Crafter) and really enjoyed it."

Dibnah, who shot a 66 in the opening round, had level par 72 that was made up of three birdies and as many bogeys.

The veteran Australian admitted that she is still searching for the elusive patience that has been absent from her game for the past four years.

"You need to have patience all right but I haven't got any," said Dibnah, the winner of 13 European titles, the last back in 1994. "I got a bit angry with myself. I've been trying to gain patience for a very long time. You're supposed to acquire patience as you get older.

"I suppose I have a little more of it now that I did when I was younger and I guess I showed a little today."

One of the most up-and-down rounds of the second day came from England's Laura Davies, who is suffering a rare problem with her confidence. Despite shooting a three under par 69, Davies was unhappy with her performance.

"I played very poorly and I putted very well - it was the complete opposite to what normally happens," said the former world number one.

"For some reason I cannot get through the ball. I'm not striking it well off the tee. I think I'm trying to steer it. That's the problem there. It's very easily said and very difficult to change.

"It's 100 per cent in the mind. I could out there (the range) and any shot you wanted to see I could hit it. I know I can do that. But stand me on the golf course, and for some reason the last two weeks have been a real struggle.

"I play week in week out with the likes of Karrie (Webb), Annika (Sorenstam) and Julie Inkster and the game does appear very, very easy. But when there is something wrong, it is probably one of the hardest sports in the world, especially at this level because you can't afford any mistakes."

In all, Davies had seven birdies and four bogeys, and her front nine, which started at the 10th hole, included only one par. Webb, who secured her first victory of the season at last week's ANZ Ladies Masters, was also dissatisfied with her second round.

"I played a bit scratchy - I did have a few chances but I didn't putt very well today," said Webb. "I think I missed a good four or five putts from 10 feet. It was not a round that had a lot of momentum, but until the last hole I didn't make any mistakes either."

The lowest score of the day came from Welsh rookie Becky Morgan, who posted a flawless five under par 67 to move into a share of ninth spot alongside England's Alison Nicholas and fellow rookie Virginie Auffret of France.