Dwayne Pearman leads Bermuda’s contingent at the halfway stage of the Trinidad & Tobago Open.

The highly decorated and experienced professional carded a five-over 77 for the second successive day during the second round of the tournament at 
St Andrews Golf Club in Moka, Maravalto, yesterday.

That enabled him to leapfrog compatriot Nick Jones on the leaderboard from seventh to fifth with 36 holes left to play.

“Today was a little wishy-washy,” Pearman told The Royal Gazette. “I started off really good. I birdied the first and third holes, so I was two under after three holes.

“Then I was cruising along pretty good and just made a few bogeys. I bogeyed seven, eight, a par at five, and then double bogeyed nine.

“I ended up three over after nine, which I wasn’t too happy about.”

Pearman’s struggles on the par-five holes continued coming in on the back nine.

“I bogeyed another par five, No 10, and came back with a birdie,” he added. “I made three three-putts today and I bogeyed three par-fives.

“But other than that, I hit the ball pretty good. I’m not disappointed how I hit the ball. I am just not scoring the way I would like, and that’s golf. But I’m doing the best I can and having fun.”

Despite a disappointing round of ten-over 82, Jones only fell one spot on the leaderboard from fifth to sixth as he, too, found the going tough.

The 32-year-old, who is making his debut at the event, could not be reached for comment.

Benjamin Martin, the defending champion, shot a one-under 71 to move to one-under 143 and open a three-shot cushion at the top of the leaderboard.

Jamaican Wesley Brown, who held a share of the 18-hole lead with Martin, sits in second at two-over 146, followed by Chris Richards Sr in third a further two strokes adrift.

Meanwhile, also representing Bermuda at the 72-hole event is government MP Zane DeSilva, who is twelfth at 38-over 182 among the super senior division.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “Of course, I’m just here as a supporter of our two Bermudian professionals.

“I just happen to be playing in the seniors division and hacking it out as I do.

“I’m in twelfth position after two days. It’s only 22 players, but that’s where I am. But it’s great and these guys are representing Bermuda well. Let’s just hope they have a good weekend and see if the Bermuda flag can be flying at the end of the day.”

Also competing among the field are former West Indies cricket captain Darren Sammy and former board president Dave Cameron.

Sammy is 29th in the first flight at 165 and Cameron tied for seventh in the senior flight at 176.