In the end, she outdrove both Peter Senior and Jean van der Velde and after finally shaking the nerves which infected the majority of her round, shot a credible 75.

In the modified stableford points format used, her five bogeys and two birdies translated into minus one point – 19 off the clubhouse lead – but she is confident a good showing tomorrow will be enough to make the cut.

“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, who was playing her first competitive round in two months.

“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 minus 10 I would be out of it.”

That seemed a possibility as she dropped back to minus five after 11 holes with five “unnecessary” bogeys.

But the format rewards attacking play by offering two points for a birdie and as she shook the nerves, Davies picked up two on the inward nine to lift herself.

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

“When I played in (a men’s tournament in) Korea last year it was nothing like the feeling out there,” Davies said.

“I suppose because it is a European Tour event and there are some big names out there.

“I didn’t feel too clever at 7.50 this morning. I didn’t sleep a lot last night to be honest. I was just thinking about that first tee shot.

“For these guys this is an ordinary event for them and they are just trying to win it. I’m out there under all sorts of pressure. But I came back with a few birdies at the end there.”

Of the title contenders, Australia’s Nick O’Hern was leading the way on 18 points after shooting an eight-under-par 64 containing four birdies and two eagles.

“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.

“I haven’t been playing well lately but today something clicked. When you get in the groove you get in an aggressive frame of mind and you go at anything.”

O’Hern was two points clear of England’s John Bickerton on 16 and four up on Australian Nick Flanagan, the US amateur champion.

England’s Nick Dougherty was in the clubhouse on seven points, along with Brian Davis.

Of the late tee-offs, New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and Australian Matthew Goggin were faring best in the stifling heat on the New South Wales coast, reaching nine points from 13 holes.

England’s Steve Webster was on eight points from 12 holes, level with Australian Peter O’Malley.

Peter Baker, after 16 holes, had slipped behind Davies and was on minus two after four bogeys and a solitary birdie.

David Howell withdrew from the tournament this morning after his caddie was taken ill.