Overseas professionals Henry Smart and Peter Knade overcame brutal conditions to grab a share of the lead in the second round of the Gosling’s Bermuda Open at Port Royal Golf Course yesterday.

The pair coped best in what proved to be a battle of attrition as players were bombarded by 30-knot winds and the occasional shower that took its toll on the field.

They replaced overnight co-leaders Kenny Leseur and James Walker, who fell slightly off the pace.

Tournament debutant and past Gosling’s International Invitational winner Smart produced the low round of 67, which included four birdies and an eagle, to jump seven spots from eighth at five under.

The Englishman capitalised on his experience playing in similar conditions competing in Britain.

“The wind was really pumping but I am used to a bit of links weather being from the UK and I absolutely loved it,” Smart told The Royal Gazette.

The 36-year-old got off to a flyer and apart from dropping two shots either side of the turn avoided the big numbers the rest of the way.

“Started on the back nine and birdied 10 and 11, which was nice, and holed a few good ones,” Smart said.

“Obviously very annoying to bogey the last hole from the middle of the fairway from 70 yards. But if you look at things like that in golf you’re never going to be successful, so we’ll move on and go out there and have fun tomorrow.

“Winning is great but for me this is just fun. It’s not my livelihood any more so I love competing and it will be a blast whatever happens.”

PGA Tour Americas player Knade shot 69, which included five birdies and three bogeys, to jump two places on the leaderboard from third.

More than anything else, the American was relieved to have withstood the trying conditions.

“That was brutal and I am exhausted,” the Florida resident said. “The conditions were really, really tough.

“I was really just trying to keep the ball in play off the tee and get it somewhere up around the green in two and then try and make as many pars as possible and limit the bogeys, so I think I did a good job at that.”

Canadian Tyler Hull also produced a round of 69 and jumped from sixth to third, one shot behind the leaders at four under.

The 27-year-old endured a roller-coaster round. He carded four birdies, two eagles and six bogeys during his stroll around the par-71 Southampton layout.

“I started off really hot; three birdies first three holes so I knew that would kind of come good regardless of the conditions,” he said.

“When I started off hot I kind of settled in really nicely and actually followed it up with three bogeys after that. But again I knew there were coming because I had already felt pretty confident on the greens.

“Got through a couple of tough holes and then two eagles was really good because that just lowers the score off the bat.”

Smart, Knade and Hull were the only players shooting under par for the day and will tee off in the final threesome in the third and final round today.

Leseur shot 73, which contained three birdies, three bogeys and a double, to slip to a tie for fourth at two under — three shots off the lead with 18 holes to play.

The 21-year-old professional was one under for the round and five under for the tournament at the turn, but was pegged back after dropping four shots in three holes on the stroll coming in.

“In the grand scheme of things, if you told me I shot 73 before I played I would’ve been happy. But the way I finished, I wasn’t very pleased with,” he said.

“I started on the harder back nine and was one under and made some mistakes on the easier holes at 5, 6 and 7.

“Overall it was OK. I’m only three back, so right where I want to be.”

Michael Sims is the only other local player under par through 36 holes with his round of 73, which contained four birdies, two bogeys and a double, leaving him tied for sixth at one under with Walker, the overnight co-leader from England.

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