 Leader SJ Thomas IslandStats.com
In the Men's Division, a two-way tie for the lead has emerged after a day of attritional golf. SJ Thomas, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, and Italy’s Andrea Birolini both mastered the breezy conditions to card impressive rounds of one-under par 70. Thomas displayed a high-risk, high-reward approach with four birdies balanced by three bogeys, while Birolini opted for a model of consistency, recording fifteen pars and just a single dropped shot during his eighteen holes.
The chasing pack is led by Fletcher Finch, another Birmingham native, who sits alone in third place after an even-par round. However, the local gallery had much to cheer about as a trio of players sit just two shots off the lead at two-over par. This fourth-place deadlock includes Florida’s Orlando Torres alongside Bermuda’s own Oliver Betschart and John Bart. Both Bermudians utilised their local knowledge of the Port Royal greens to stay within striking distance of the leaders, while the island's third representative, Arman Newton, struggled in the gusts to finish the day in a tie for 37th following an opening 81.
The Women’s Division is currently spearheaded by Maya Brown of Thousand Oaks, California, who navigated the coastal layout to finish the day at two-over par 73. Brown’s round was anchored by twelve pars and two birdies, giving her a slender two-shot advantage over Aspen Bikowski and Annie Jin, who share second place. A further shot back, a three-way tie for fourth includes Aubrey Hilgers, Nikitha Suresh, and Andie Greenberg, all of whom carded four-over par 75s.
For the local contingent in the women's field, Darina Betschart faced a difficult opening day on the exposed fairways. The Bermudian junior finished her first round with an 83, leaving her twelve-over par and in a tie for 19th place. With two rounds remaining and the Atlantic winds forecast to remain a factor, the leaderboard remains wide open as the field prepares for a pivotal moving day at the home of Bermudian golf.
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