of the $60,000 Bermuda Open at Port Royal.

The American, from Georgia, shot a one-over-par 72 yesterday to add to his 67 of Thursday for a 139 total.

A shot further back lies Mike Donald -- the former US PGA Tour winner -- who carded a par-71 to add to his first round 69.

Tied for third place on 143 are Josh Hillman and Stephane Lovey.

The best ranked Bermudian is Belmont pro, Cornell Bean, whose 71 yesterday equalled the best of the day and took him one shot clear of Dwayne Pearman who fired a 77.

Bean is on 149 and Pearman on 150 while Andrew Trott is six shots further back on 156.

Fellow Islanders Nick Mansell and Robbie Spurling have totals of 152 and 159 going into today's third round.

Defending champion PJ Cowan recorded a second successive 73 and is now seven shots behind Conley.

Despite holding the lead, Conley said he was still getting acquainted with some new clubs and described his efforts yesterday as "frustrating''.

"I put some new clubs in the bag this week and I'm not quite used to them.

But I've got two more days to get used to them and I like them,'' he said.

Without underestimating the competition, Conley said he felt the main threat to his chances was himself.

"I understand Ken Green has withdrawn and Dwayne isn't playing very well, Mike Donald has got a lot of years of Tour experience and PJ Cowan won last year and I'm sure there's someone else who thinks they can get into contention.

"But I've played over here enough to know that if I play my game I'm not going to get beat.'' Conley believed his lead could, and maybe should, have been greater than just a single shot.

"My 72 today wasn't very good,'' he said. "I bogeyed 16 and 17. I was one under just breezing along not making any putts so I thought if I can make a couple of putts I can get back to two or three-under and I made two bogeys instead of two birdies trying to get cute.'' The weather and tricky pin positions had also been factors.

"It was windier and I think some of the pins were in a couple of more difficult spots,'' he said.

"When the wind was at your back the pin was in the front and it was hard to get close and when the wind was at your face the pin was way at the back or a couple of them were just tricky on the side.'' Conley said he wasn't sure whether he'd be paired with Donald today, but if he was it could be an interesting round.

"He'll be looking at me and I'll be looking at him,'' he said. "I know how the gamesmanship goes.'' And as for the outcome? "It'll be fun to have a match go down all the way to the end but I hope I have a 10 shot lead,'' he said, adding that Donald would make sure he didn't rest on his laurels.

"I'd rather be one ahead than one behind in case a hurricane shows up,'' he said. "But I'm not going to be able to let up. I'm going to have to try and stick to my plan, make two birdies every nine holes and hopefully eight more will do providing I don't give any of them back.'' Full results, see Scoreboard Dwayne Pearman: The Ocean View pro fired a 77 yesterday to slip 13 shots behind Bermuda Open leader Tim Conley. Belmont pro Cornell Bean equalled the day's best round of 71 to move one shot ahead of Pearman.

Tim Conley: remains one shot clear at the top after shooting a one-over-par 72 yesterday.

Jessie Allen: His one-over par 72 kept him in contention, just five shots off the lead.