Tym Glaser, Associate Editor - Sport

Jamaican professional John Bloomfield takes a break at the par-three 10th hole during the opening round of the Jamaica Open at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

FORMER HOERMAN Cup star John Bloomfield fired a superb four-under on the back nine yesterday to hold a one-stroke lead going into today's second and penultimate round of the Jamaica Open golf tournament at the Caymanas Golf and Country Club.

After struggling to two-over 38 at the turn, Bloomfield righted the ship with birdies at the 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes before a bogey at the par-three 17th saw him finish the day at two-under 70. His sensational streak sees him one stroke ahead of long-time friend and fellow former Hoerman Cupper Jason Lopez, who battled jangling nerves to post a one-under round of 71 to hold outright second position in the 16-man professional field, which is chasing first-place prizemoney of US$8,000.

Lopez, who is the resident professional at the picturesque St. Catherine course, was extremely steady with two birdies and a bogey marking his card.

Happy

"I was a little nervous today, my hands were shaking," said Lopez after the round. "I haven't played tournament golf for about six months while the other guys have been doing it quite a bit," he said.

"I'm pretty happy with the round. You can't win a tournament on the first day but you can lose it."

Snapping at the heels of Bloomfield and Lopez are Peter Horrobin, Ewan Peebles, Livingston Williams and amateur Paul Thompson who carded even-par 72s.

Horrobin will represent the island next month at the World Cup of Golf in Barbados with senior Delroy Cambridge. Williams, now based in the United States, was the former pro at Constant Spring Golf Club while Peebles is a professional at the Sandals Ocho Rios course at Upton.

Talented youngster Fabian Campbell, who is still getting over the death of his mother earlier this month, was a further stroke back on 73 with professionals Christopher Richards and Garnet Wright.

In the women's section, Maggie Lyn put her local knowledge to good use as her five-over 77 sees her well clear of Curacao's Jewel Rokx (98) and Eileen Carol (102).

First tee time today is 8:00. After the second round there will be a cut in the professional ranks with the top 50 per cent of the field - plus ties, advancing to tomorrow's final 18 holes.