Bill Pitt and Leroy Burch opened a seven-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the Bermuda Four Ball Championships after a round of 71 at Port Royal GC yesterday. The pair suffered a letdown on the previous day's form, when they carded 68, but found comfort in that their nearest challengers struggled to make inroads.

Randy Richardson and Maxwell Curtis ballooned to a 78 and lie in a four-way tie for fifth place on 150 while Tim Carr and Joey McRonald, the pre-tournament favourites, had their second round of 73 to move into second place. But the biggest move of the day came from Jarryd Dillas and Davis Smith, who rebounded from a 78 on Thursday to record the day's best round of 69 to move into sole possession of third.

The women's tournament, played over 54 holes, began yesterday with Sue Holland and Pat Morgan setting the pace after a 75. They are three strokes clear of Ebonie Burgess and Gail Kozol and Joan Cassidy and Carla O'Callaghan.