In the face of strong overseas competition, Bermuda's junior golfers showed their mettle yesterday to emerge as frontrunners at the half-way stage of the inaugural Bank of Bermuda Foundation International Junior Golf Championship.

When the second and final round begins this morning at Mid Ocean Club, all eyes will be on the hometown trio of Jarryd Dillas, Eric West and Fraser Hunt who each shot two-over-par 73s to finish the day as joint leaders of the 15-19 age category. Also on 73 is Florida's Federico Salazar.

Bermuda's David Boyce, Lee Keong Yang of Singapore and Stephen Thomas of Canada are in hot pursuit, each having carded 74. Another Bermudian, Jason Darrell, and American Justin Barr both recorded 75 in their first-round effort.

The tournament, organised by the Bermuda Junior Golf Association under the auspices of the Jim McLean Future Collegians World Tour, has been reduced to a two-day, 36-hole battle after rain prevented play on Thursday, the scheduled start of what was originally a 54-hole event.

There are 71 competitors - 30 locals and 41 from overseas - vying for top honours in the 13-14 and 15-19 age groups.

The Bermudians' performance thus far in the 15-19 group is even more commendable considering that of the 58 entrants in that category, they are outnumbered 18 to 40 by their foreign counterparts. However, they appear not in any way intimidated and will be looking to continue their impressive showing today.

"I just want to go out and do the same thing I did today - just play my game and hopefully drive the ball better," said 18-year-old Hunt, expressing satisfaction with his first-day score.

Dillas, 16, termed his round "a good one" though he didn't putt as well as he wanted. The Saltus Grammar School student admitted having some initial jitters but these disappeared once he teed off. Today, he will be looking to capitalise on his first-round position by making as many birdies as possible and fulfilling his goal of shooting two rounds under 74.

Boyce, 17, is hoping to play as consistently as he has been for the past two weeks. Such form, he said, should put him among the top finishers.

"I'm just taking one hole at a time and see what happens. I'm reasonably pleased with my performance. I struck the ball fairly well today. I had some trouble at the 12th hole with a double bogey but besides that I played solidly," he surmised.

Top local Aaron James, who is enrolled at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, is hoping to improve today after shooting a 79, including a triple bogey at the first hole.

Meanwhile, in the 13-14 category, Bermudians Mark Phillips and Andrew Osborne share the lead with 78 while Daniel Augustus shot 80.