Camiko Smith emerged in pole position to claim a spot in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship after the first two rounds of the Local Qualifier yesterday.

Smith finished level par after 36 holes and heads the field of 22 golfers at Port Royal Golf Course by two strokes over Scott Roy, Chaka DeSilva and Nick Jones, with the final 18 holes scheduled for today.

With many players not used to having to walk 18 holes, let alone make two treks around the 6,539-yard course, the contest became one of attrition with the struggle evident for many to maintain form, focus and accuracy, particularly during the latter round.

Roy, who previously came within one place of qualifying for the main event, and Nick Jones, a qualifier last year, both carded initial rounds of 68 to lead the way after one round, with Smith and Damian Palanyandi a stroke back.

A bogey and double bogey to start the second round saw Roy drop out of the top spot, with Smith moving to the front alongside Jones, the pair mirroring each other’s play until the latter made bogeys on 13, 14 and 15 and a double bogey on 16.

Jones noted his struggles continue with his short game, which completely deserted him on the final holes.

“I was three under and then I missed the green on 13 to the right and hit a poor chip and the same thing on 14, where I was in the fairway and then I pulled it slightly left,” Jones said.

“My short game wasn’t strong enough at the end to make it easier for me to shoot low. I just need to better handle the pressure of the closing holes, which hopefully I’ll figure out tomorrow.”

Roy was pleased to have been able to recover from a disastrous start to the second round and remain in contention for a top-three place.

“I was very happy with my first 18 holes,” Roy said.

“I wanted to shoot two or three under and that’s exactly what I did. It was nothing exciting, but I was able to capitalise on the opportunities that I had.

“I think that this afternoon, going straight from the first round to the second round was certainly something new and I haven’t played many 36 hole events lately.

“I started to feel the legs, which I knew would happen. I made two bad swings at the first two holes, but I was able to fight back and put things together, so I’m not mad at all.

“Second place means that I’ve given myself a chance and I’m right there in position and tomorrow’s another day.

“I know I can get this golf course and I’ll let everybody else fight their own demons.”

Also in close touch with the leaders heading into the final day are amateurs Jarryd Dillas, (three over), Damian Palanyandi (four over) and Eric West (four over).

The top three finishers after today’s final round will earn a place in the PGA Tour event, which takes place from November 9 to 12, while the golfers who finish fourth, fifth and sixth will secure spots in the Butterfield Bermuda APGA Championship.

• UPDATE: this story has been amended to remove the suggestion that Camiko Smith had refused to speak to the media. It was a case of mistaken identity and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.