Olin Brown takes one-stroke lead

Western Bureau:Reigning US senior champion Olin Brown took over the lead at the 48th LIME Jamaica Open Golf Tournament at Half Moon Golf Course in Montego Bay yesterday, after he shot a dazzling 67 to establish a one-stroke lead going into today's final day of the US$85,000 54-hole tournament.

Brown, who shot two under par on the first day and intimated that he was eyeing the low 60s yesterday, now has a combined score of 137, which is one more than multiple PGA winner Jim Thorpe, first-day leader Russ Cochran, and Dave Levesque.

Jamaica's Johnny Bloomfield, who is chasing a record fourth Jamaica Open title, did not fare as well as he did on the first day as he could only manage even par, which gives him a combine score of 148, which places him in fifth position.

Following his first day two under par, Bloomfield noted that while he was confident, he recognised that golf is an unpredictable sport which offered no guarantees.

"I am very happy with the start I got today, it was my best start in recent years," Bloomfield said after Thursday's first day. "The course feels good and I feel great ... I think I am in a good position to push for a win but you never know, golf is a crazy game."

The lanky Bloomfield shares the LIME Jamaica Open titles record with former national star Seymour Rose who, like him, has won the tournament three times. Rose won in 1977, 1982 and 1987.

Dick Mast, who came from nowhere late on Thursday's first day to join Cochran atop the leader board, was less dazzling yesterday as he could only manage one under par. However, his combined score of 139 is just a mere two strokes off the lead.

Defending champion Ron Schroeder, who shot one over par on the opening day, did marginally better yesterday, shooting one under par. However, he is some way off the lead in 14th position.

The top 20 players going into today's final day are as follows:

1. Olin Browne 70, 67 - 137; 2. Jim Thorpe 70, 68 - 138; 3. Dave Levesque 70, 68 - 138; 4. Russ Cochran 68, 70 - 138; 5. Dick Mast 68, 71 - 139; 6. Michael Bennett 69, 71 - 140; 7. Dave Rummells 70, 70 - 140; 8. Devin Carrey 72, 69 - 141; 9. Ryan Terdik 70, 71 - 141; 10. Johnny Bloomfield 70, 72 - 142; 11. Jim Hazen 72, 70 - 142; 12. Jim Chancey 73, 69 - 142; 13. Peter Horrobin 70, 72 - 142; 14. Ron Schroeder 73, 71 - 144; 15. Steve Thomas 74, 71 - 145; 16. Fulton Allem 77, 70 - 147; 17. Matt Vandelac 73, 75 - 148; 18. Ernest Bernard 72, 77 - 149; 19. Bob Casper 77, 74 - 151; 20. Garnet Wright 74, 78 - 152.