They advanced two places up the leaderboard, but otherwise it was another frustrating 18 holes for Bermuda’s golfers at the World Amateur Team Championships in South Africa yesterday.

Beginning the Eisenhower Cup second round at ten-over par and in 42nd position, Robert Vallis, Nick Mansell and Will Haddrell knew that two rounds of even-par or better were a must if they were to force their way into the top half of the 72-team field.

But having endured a torrid Bermuda debut the day before, after shooting a bogey-strewn 10-over par, Haddrell was the only one who looked like reaching that goal — ultimately finishing with a one-over 73 to leave him 11-over for the tournament.

Both Vallis and Mansell, meanwhile, struggled to impose themselves on the Stellenbosch Golf Club’s narrow fairways, each shooting plus-five (77) for their rounds to leave Bermuda’s team total on plus-16 with only 36 holes remaining.

Canada continue to lead the tournament on ten-under par, one shot up on their North American neighbours and bitter rivals the US, who shot an impressive eight-under yesterday to go from tenth to second.

Speaking from the team hotel last night in the town of Stellenbosch just outside of Cape Town, Mansell admitted that all three had so far failed to produce their best golf.

“It’s been tough going no question and all three of us have struggled,” said the Port Royal superintendent, who was a late-replacement in the team after the withdrawal of David Smith.

“I particularly have found it difficult to adapt to the conditions out here and the different type of grass on the courses, which has thrown my short game off a little and meant that on several occasions I’ve failed to get up and down from positions where I should have done.

“I also missed a few makeable birdie putts today at various stages of the round which on another day might have dropped in and I’d be sitting here telling you a different story.

“We’re all frustrated because we know we can play better and that we should be higher up the leaderboard than we are.”

Haddrell, meanwhile, who after four years of top-tier collegiate golf with Texas Tech is looking to turn professional soon after the Eisenhower Cup is over, was scathing about his own form despite a much-improved second round performance.

“I hit the ball even worse to be honest but I managed my round a bit better than I did on the first day,” said the 23-year-old Bermudian, who divides his time between college in the US and his home in the UK.

“I think I actually hit the ball better in the first round, but probably because I haven’t played a lot of tournament golf in the last couple of months I was little bit unsure of my shot and club selection and all of a sudden I was reeling off bogey after bogey.

“Today I took irons off the tee as often as I could to just keep the ball in play, and though I would ideally like to be shooting under par, the way I’m hitting it at the moment I’m glad to be shooting one-over.

“But like Nick said, we should be higher up the leaderboard and I still believe we have the ability to finish in the top 30.”

Bermuda play their third round today on the nearby De Zalze golf course, before returning to Stellenbosch on Saturday.

The Island’s best-ever finish at the Eisenhower Cup came in 1958 — the prestigious event’s inaugural year — when the team came 16th.