Strong winds and heavy showers forced cancellation of yesterday's second round of play in the Bank of Bermuda Foundation International Junior Golf Championships at Mid Ocean Club.

But both David Smith and Jarryd Dillas, two of the Island's top young prospects competing in the senior boys' 16 to 19 division, will be gunning for the title when play resumes this morning.

The local pair are currently in fifth and sixth place respectively, within striking distance of American leader Rob Grube heading into today's final round of the tournament which has been reduced to 36 holes as a result of yesterday's downpours.

Smith shot a six-over-par 77 in the first round on Thursday to leave himself four shots adrift of Grube while Dillas carded a 78 to complete the opening round in a five-way tie for sixth place.

Bermuda's Sergio Edness shot a nine-over-par 80 to remain in a two-way tie for 12th position with American Chris Streff.

Dillas took full advantage of yesterday's cancellation to catch up on a putting game that eluded him on Thursday.

"I managed to hit the ball fairly well but I just didn't make any putts out there," the player reflected.

"The greens are pretty consistent speedwise, a little bit bumpy because they were so long. But everybody had to putt on them so some guys made the putts and I was one of the guys who didn't.

"It was very breezy out there, so controlling distances was a bit tough because if you put the ball up into the air it would get away from you. But overall I hit the ball well. I just didn't make any good putts."

Like many of his fellow competitors, Dillas was disappointed to see yesterday's second round washed out.

"It would've been nice to get out on the course and get some play in and maybe cut into the lead a bit. But what else can you do," he added.

However, while Dillas may have struggled with the wet and windy conditions, his American rivals seemed to excel as they dominated the opening round to occupy the top four positions on the leaderboard.

Current leader Grube (73) holds a one stroke lead over compatriot Tristan Lester (74) while Jimmy Markovitz carded a 75 on Thursday and Michael Schnegelberger a four-over-par 75.

In the boys' 13 to 15 age group, Bermuda's Mark Phillips (79) - last year's champion in the 14-and-under division - remains in a tie with American Clayton Rotz (79) and two shots adrift of American leader Jonathan Berger (77). Bermuda's Daniel Augustus (80) is tied with another local, Andrew Osborne.

Seemingly unaffected by Thursday's challenging conditions, Bermudian Angus Lang fired a superb four-over-par 75 to forge an enormous 11-stroke lead over American James Tallent (86) and fellow local Jun Hardart (91) in the boys' 11 to 12 division.

Setting the early pace among the open girls was reigning Bermuda Amateur Champion Ebonie Burgess who carded an opening round nine-over-par 80 to take a three-shot lead over American rival Christie Tallent heading into today's final round. Bermuda's Tariqah Walikraam (87) is in third place.