opening round 77 yesterday at the British Senior Open at the Royal Lytham St.

Anne's Golf Club in Blackpool, England.

Jones is situated a third of the way down the 120-strong field entering today's second round. Englishman Neil Coles heads the field after a round of 69. Golfing great Arnold Palmer produced one of the his best rounds in several years to hold second alongside Peter Butler one stroke back, while Bob Charles had an even par 71.

In fact Jones' name topped the leaderboard after three holes as he started off on the links course with a birdie on the first hole followed by consecutive pars.

However, the rains soon came, hampering the veteran golfer's progress. "I was feeling pretty good out there until it started raining,'' said Jones. "I don't mind the wind too much, but rain makes it hard to grip and control the club.'' He went on to bogey the sixth, seventh and ninth holes, and had a double bogey ath the eighth. He was five-over-par at the midway point but recovered well on the back nine.

"It's a wonderful feeling playing alongside all these great players,'' said Jones. "It gives me determination to want and go out and beat these guys.'' Kim Marshall was in fourth place at the half-way stage of the Optimist Junior World Golf tournament in San Diego, California.

Marshall trailed leader Erika Hayashida of Peru by eight strokes going into yesterday's third round, but the local player was just three strokes behind second-placed Luisa Cuartas of California in the girl's 15-17 age group.

Hayashida led with 146 followed by Cuartas (151), Eunice Choi of California (153) and Marshall on 154.

However, Bermuda's Chris Garland remains buried well down the field in the boy's 15-17 division after two eight-over-par 80s in the first two rounds for a score of 160 -- well behind leader Tiger Woods of California on 139. The final round is scheduled for today.