Roger Beale, meanwhile, was continuing the fine form that resulted in his score of 70 on the first day of competition. He birdied the 1st and the 5th and saved a par at the 7th, getting up and down out of the greenside bunker short of the green. His front nine score card, similar to James’, was also bogey free.
The match started to swing James’ way, however, on the difficult uphill 11th. After two good drives, both players miscued their approach shots short of the green. While James was able to get up and down from the fringe for his par, the best Roger could do was make bogey. Unluckily his approach drew a dreadful lie in thick rough on the very edge of the greenside bunker and he had no alternative but to hack it out on to the green.
Both players continued to play steady golf, but the flow of birdies that had characterized play on the outward nine dried up on the back nine. James completed his round with nine straight pars, while Roger was two over, adding another bogey on the par 3, 15th.
The final scores after yesterday’s play leaves both players at 2 under par.
James Johnson 74 + 68 = 142
Roger Beale 70 + 72 = 142
The scene is set, therefore, for an exciting shootout this afternoon. Each player has won BDS$500.00. after thirty six holes of competition. The winner of today’s round will win a further BDS$2000.00.
The players tee off today at 1:00 at Royal Westmoreland.