Brian Davis shot a three-under-par 67 to lead by a stroke after two rounds of the Honda Classic in Florida.

The Briton is eight-under par, one shot ahead of Matt Jones, who carded a 67, with 2000 winner Dudley Hart six-under.

John Mallinger and Ben Crane were tied for fourth three shots back, with Ernie Els in a group of five at three-under.

Davis's compatriot and first-round leader Luke Donald shot a four-over 74, including a quadruple-bogey on the 14th, to fall six shots off the pace.

Davis, who a had a bogey-free opening round, began with two birdies in his first four holes before a double-bogey at the seventh and a bogey at the ninth left him even at the turn.

But the Londoner, aiming for his first PGA Tour win, carded birdies at the 12th and 13th before his birdie on the par-five 18th gave him the lead at Palm Beach Gardens.

"Around this course, I think you'd need about a 20-shot lead with one round to go," he said.

"You know it's going to come down to the last nine holes, just the way the course is set up. I can't see anybody getting a six-shot lead (on Saturday)."

Australian Jones had birdies on three of his first five holes before a bogey on the 11th left him two shots under.

However, the 27-year-old carded his 10th birdie of the tournament on the next hole to help finish his day in second.

Hart, 39, carded six straight birdies on the front nine to move to six-under, but a double-bogey at the par-three 17th kept him from finishing the day with a share of the lead.

Defending champion Mark Wilson shot a three-over-par 73 for the second consecutive day and missed the cut.