Championship, but a challenger has emerged from the chasing pack.

Mackenzie fired a second round 72 -- two shots more than Tuesday's total -- to head the leaderboard at Riddell's Bay on 142.

However, the American's six-shot lead going into the day's play was chiselled away by a single stroke by Michael Tavares (147).

Ed Tallach is joined in third by Howard DeSilva, both players amassing two round totals of 150. Tallach shot a 74 yesterday with DeSilva replying with a 73. Brendan Ingham and Eldon Raynor are next in line on 150.

In the ladies event, Dolly Winwick took first-day honours with a round of 81.

That finish put her five shots clear of Joan Foulger who herself is a shot ahead of Louise Rodger.

LIGHTBOURNE PLAYS FOR RESERVES SOC Lightbourne plays for reserves Kyle Lightbourne figured for Stoke City's reserves yesterday, but could not help them avoid a 3-1 Avon Insurance League Cup final defeat against Sheffield United. Sheffield took a 2-0 lead in the match before the Bermudian's strike partner Chris Iwelumo grabbed a goal back.

Lewis Neal missed a chance to bring the scores level from the penalty spot, before Sheffield grabbed a third.

Lightbourne is set to find a new club this summer as he is now out of contract with the Potters.

SMITH GIVES REDS THE BLUES CRI Smith gives Reds the blues A 67-run partnership between J.Smith (38) and D.Brangman (26) steered a national under-15 `Red' team to victory over a `Blue' team in a coaches' select match at Lord's on the weekend.

The Reds totalled 164, with C.Douglas adding 26, while the Blues could reply with only 152, opener A.Douglas top scoring with 29. Fellow opener R.Trott hit 23, C.Castle 26 and S.Talbot an unbeaten 24. A.Douglas returned the day's best bowling figures, three for 16 off five overs.

"That's like winning the lottery. It'll never happen again, not in my lifetime, I know.'' -- The reaction of American construction worker James Hylton after he bowled only the fifth perfect 900 series (36 consecutive strikes) in the 106-year history of the American Bowling Congress. See story on page 26 .