Championship, taking advantage of a slip by overnight co-leader Keith Smith at Mid Ocean yesterday.

Scores remained high for the second straight day, as adverse weather conditions continued to dominate the event. Pearman actually added three strokes to his opening round score of 76 to finish the day with an eight-over-par 79.

However, with Smith carding an 80, Pearman maintained the leadership by virtue of his two-round total of 155, compared to 156 for Smith.

Cornell Bean is third after a similar round of 80, but it was Kim Swan making the biggest move, as he recouped four strokes on the leader after a disastrous outing on Tuesday.

Swan had the day's best score, a five-over-par 75, to stand seven shots off the pace.

"Yesterday (Tuesday) I guess was a case of me having too much Christmas pudding and turkey,'' joked Swan, the 1990 winner. "I couldn't hit the side of a barn if it was five feet in front of me...it was just one of those days.

"Today there was a little pride at stake and I went out there and buckled down to the task.'' Still, a bogey on the first hole may have brought haunting memories of the day before, but Swan quickly allayed any fears of a repeat showing in registering par on holes two and three.

He wound up the front nine at four over, with his effort at the fifth hole particularly interesting.

Swan bent down to collect his tee after a booming drive, which he thought would put him in good standing, only to rise just in time to watch the ball splash into the water hazard after having its path altered by a strong gust.

A blitz by the St. George's professional ensued on the back nine as he raced home at even par, including a near hole-in-one at the par-three 13th, where his initial drive rolled within five inches off the cup.

As for his chances of winning the title, Swan said that there was "still a lot of golf to be played'' with two rounds to go.

"I feel that if I get a good start I can go under par. I have to play in the 60's.'' Meanwhile, at nearby Castle Harbour, Michael Daniels stroked his way to 78 during the second round of amateur qualifying for the Bermuda PGA card.

Daniels, with a total of 158, now leads second place David James, who shot 77, by five strokes.