out Texan Carl Cooper's one-stroke lead at the halfway stage of the $35,000 Bermuda Open at Port Royal GC.

The two Americans now share a four-stroke lead on 138 over four other players as the tournament shapes up for a thrilling last two days over the weekend.

Fieger, who plays out of Overbrook Golf Club in Pennsylvania, is no doubt confident of his chances over the next two days.

"There is still eight hours of golf left,'' said Fieger. "If I break par every day I'm not going to do too bad. It's a great course and I love this layout. It hasn't been real windy so it hasn't shown its true colours.'' The scenic 16th hole, which becomes a beast when the wind is blowing, has not caused Fieger any problems so far. "I used a nine-iron yesterday and an eight-iron today,'' he said.

"But if you're hitting into a headwind it's a different story. I played steady and missed only two greens.'' Cooper, the leader overnight following a splendid four-under-par 67 on Thursday, enters a "hanging-in-there day'' today after yesterday's even-par 71.

"I'm lucky to be where I am,'' he admitted after yesterday's round in which he had four bogeys to cancel out four birdies. "I played very spotty. On the first three holes I left birdie putts from 10 feet.'' One of his bogeys came on the ninth after he overhit the green and landed on the number 18 green in front of the clubhouse. Like Fieger, Cooper sees the weather as being a key factor the next two days.

"I think the weather could have a lot to do with it. Ten under par is the number I want to get to. I didn't hit as many fairways today as yesterday, but hopefully tomorrow I can come back and have another good round. It's going to be one of those `hanging-in-there' days.'' Bermudian Dwayne Pearman missed a golden chance to stay right behind the leaders when he could only add a 73 to his 69 the day before, leaving him four shots behind on 142 with Bob Mucha (72 yesterday), John Reeves (71) and Craig Marseilles, who had a second straight even-par 71.

Naoka Furukawa, who holds a Japanese tour card, slipped down the leader board after only being able to add a 77 to his first-day 70. Tom Sullivan, who also had an opening-day 70, carded a 78 to slip off the pace.

Defending champion Ron McDougal, who made his move this time last year, is still within striking distance at five strokes back following his 71 yesterday.

"I still have a lot of work to do,'' he said. "I feel I'm hitting the ball well enough to score but I'm just not having good putting rounds. I had two birdies yesterday and two birdies today.

"With the weather conditions like they are you have to take advantage of it.

What if it gets windy? "I'm not going to change anything I'm doing. I've got a game plan that I'm going to stick to.'' McDougal explained that he hit eight of the front-nine greens in regulation and five more in the back nine. "I just hope a good player like Carl doesn't start running away with it like I did last year.'' The 18th hole has been giving the defending champion problems this year. In the first two days he has pulled his tee shot into the trees on the left, two-putting yesterday for one of his two bogeys. The other was on number 11.

"I'll be slicing it tomorrow,'' he promised of his tee shot on 18. Local player Howard DeSilva has something to smile about at the halfway stage following his 78 yesterday, which leaves him in first place on 153 by a stroke in the amateur division.

Local policeman Tim Carr is one stroke behind (76-78) in a tie with Mark Chestnut of Kentucky. Chestnut has put together rounds of 75 and 79.

CARL COOPER -- Joined at the top of the Bermuda Open leaderboard by Gene Feiger yesterday.