On Thursday Ian Doig threw down the gauntlet by carding a blistering opening round five under par 66.

Yesterday, US pro Tim Conley took up the challenge and replied with a birdie blitz of his own during second round play at the Bermuda Open at Port Royal.

Conley, last year's runner up and a former Open champion, entered the clubhouse with the day's lowest round of three under par 68 to remain in the hunt for top honours.

The American carded six birdies to move within four shots of Canadian Doig who completed the second round of the 72-hole tournament at two over par 73.

Conley wasn't the only one in fine form yesterday as former US PGA player P.H. Horgan fired an equally impressive 69 to earn a share of the lead, while Canadian Danny King finished the day all even (71) to take sole possession of second spot.

Local defending champion Dwayne Pearman, meanwhile, fell further off the pace with a seven over par 78, while in stark contrast, 65-year-old senior pro Jay Dolan continued to hang with the big guns, carding a very respectable two over par 73 to remain tied with Conley and two other competitors in third.

After all was said and done, though, it was Conley who had the biggest smile on his face.

"Yesterday (Thursday) I figured I was out of the tournament but to shoot a 68 in these conditions . . . I know that I am back in it. But it's not done yet," he said, moments after signing his scorecard.

"It was tougher today then yesterday. I think my 75 on Thursday was one of my worst rounds I've ever played."

The highlight of Conley's impressive fightback came at the 422-yard par four fourth hole where he hit a four iron off the tee which rolled to within two inches of the cup.

"I usually bogey that hole," he quipped. "But today I birdied it and that helped my confidence a lot."

Not even a double bogey at the picturesque par three 16th hole could derail his charge up the leaderboard as Conley went on to tap in for birdie at the 17th hole before closing out his morale-boosting round with another par on the final hole.

"I hit the ball too much to the left off the tee and the wind got it and it hit the bank and went overboard," explained Conley, who has experienced more than his fair share of bad fortunes over the summer months playing on the Nationwide Tour.

However, Conley's performance could not topple Doig from the top of the leaderboard.

The Canadian carded three birdies yesterday, including one on the seventh hole where he had eagled the day before.

But bogeys at nine, 11, 14 and a double bogey at 15 at least enabled Conley to cut into his lead.

"I made a couple of blips that I wasn't too happy with," conceded Doig afterwards, a three-time Belmont Invitational champion.

"But, overall, I actually think I hit the ball really solidly today than I did yesterday. I fell asleep on one tee shot on the one hole on this golf course that you can't afford to, and that was at 15. But the rest of the round I hit the ball very solid and so I am pleased with today."

Apart from those minor irritants, Doig hit 14 greens in regulation.

Pearman's game, meanwhile, continued to come undone at the seams.

The two-time defending champion endured a bogey plagued round.

"Right from the get-go I got off to a bad start," lamented Pearman, who double bogeyed the very first hole.

"From there I went on to make a few more bogeys. I never felt as though I was into it out there today. It gets that way at times. My swing was fine but I just couldn't get anything going."

Pearman carded four bogeys and a double bogey yesterday to fall 11 shots off the leaders.

Meanwhile, senior pro Dolan is really enjoying his game these days, especially a opening round of one under par 70 on Thursday.

"At 65 you don't shoot many of those," he quipped.

"I started coming here back in the late 1960s when Tommy Smatt was the pro at Castle Harbour. And I just love the courses here, the people and everything else about here. I just hope I can play as good over the last two days."

Bermuda Open action continues today and tomorrow at Port Royal. See also Page 18.