As the wind dropped, so did the scores on the second day of the Bermuda Open golf championships at Port Royal yesterday.

A scintillating five-under-par 66, certainly one of the lowest tournament rounds ever carded on the Southampton course, propelled American Rick Price into a three shot lead.

But with eight other players -- including the favourite PGA pro John Mahaffey and Bermuda's own Dwayne Pearman -- matching or bettering par, it remains an open race.

Price, who plays out of the Medinah Golf Club in Pennsylvania, separated himself from the field with his 66 to follow an opening day 72, leaving him at four under (138) after two days -- the lowest 36-hole Open total in recent memory.

But still well within striking range are former champion Gene Fieger (141), also from Pennsylvania, who added a one-under-par 70 to his first round 71 and former PGA champion Mahaffey (142), who carded 69 yesterday in conditions which while less windy than the previous day were still far from perfect.

Canadian Stuart Hendley, who has been plying his trade on the South African tour this year and is a former winner on the Canadian tour, moved into contention with an impressive 68, the day's second best score, and like Fieger is just three shots behind Price.

John Riegger (69) and another former winner Tim Conley (70) also broke par on the second day while Bob Mucha, who won this event in 1989, Ocean View pro Pearman and James Becker all matched par to stay in the hunt.

First day joint leader with Fieger, Florida's Adam Armagast maintained his challenge with a one-over 72 to stand on 143, just five shots back.

While Pearman leads the local charge with a two-day total of 145, St.George's pro Kim Swan trails his rival by just three, having fired a two-over 73 yesterday. Defending champion Jeff Lewis, like Pearman, is seven shots off the pace, having carded 72 yesterday.

Meanwhile, Port Royal's Henry Ascento who only returned earlier this week from representing Bermuda at the World Amateur Team Championships in France, took a clear lead among the amateurs yesterday with a 75 to add to his opening day 76.

His 36-hole total of 151 is two better than Arthur Jones, who represented the Island at the last World Championships two years ago. A further two shots back on 155 is another local, Blake Marshall.

Undoubtedly yesterday's most improved performance came from visiting pro Ed Osowski. He carded a dreadful 91 on Thursday but rebounded to fire 74, a difference of 17 shots.

Full scores -- see Scoreboard, Page 16