half-way stage of the men's Bermuda Four Ball Strokeplay Championships at Port Royal yesterday, carding the lowest round of the tournament so far, a two-under-par 69.

Following their opening day round of 70, Pitt and Ascento drew clear of the early joint leaders, Zane DeSilva and Douglas (Blip) Morris, who carded an even-par 71 yesterday.

Champions in 1992, Ascento, who works at Port Royal, and Pitt, who was assistant manager at the Southampton course before taking over as manager of Ocean View, now lie on 139 with DeSilva and Morris on 141.

Defending champions Dennis Connors and Dan Rourke of the US, who started the day two shots behind the leaders, could only manage a 73 yesterday and were joined in third place on 145 by Randy Richardson and Maxwell Curtis who added a 71 to their first round of 74.

The opening round of the ladies championship yesterday saw Sandy Hutchings and Kyle Keever take a three shot lead with a round of 77.

They're followed by Mary Bowmaster and Willy Veenendaal (80), Nancy Black and Priscilla Bailey (81) and Valerie Nearon and Donna Jones (81).

Both tournaments continue at Port Royal today and tomorrow.