HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC):

JAMAICAN DELROY Cambridge slipped to eight shots off the lead after firing a nine-over 79 as the second round of the Bermuda Open was hit by gale-force winds and showers at Tucker's Point Club on Wednesday. With several players in the small field of 26 posting scores in the mid-80s, the round was more about damage limitation than scoring well.

Overnight leader Henrik Engdahl of Sweden did better than most, posting a five-over 75 to move to three-over for the tournament on 143, but Brian McCann moved to within a shot of the lead with a 73 - the best round of the day.

Exhausted

Engdahl admitted to being exhausted after a near four-hour battle against the elements.

"It was a rough day, it was a really tough day," said Engdahl. "I'm totally exhausted. I've been fighting since 10 in the morning, and I'm more or less 'dead'. It was terrifying, but the wind is for everybody so you have to keep the ball low and in play all the time, not taking chances, just keeping it simple."

The wind was so strong on Wednesday that the ball was being blown across the greens before the players had a chance to line-up their putts.

Cambridge, who is still in touching distance of the leaders on 151, went out with Bill Walsh (146) and Ed Kirby (148) in yesterday's penultimate group.

Purse money for the tournament, which is normally played a month earlier, has been halved to US$25,000.