Brown in eighth at Alacran Ja Open

Jamaica’s Wesley Brown is tied for eighth place following his even-par round of 72 to be three shots off the lead heading into the second day of the three day Alacran Jamaica Open at the Tryall Golf Club in Hanover.

The St Ann-based Brown, who also plies his trade overseas, got off to a decent start, scoring four birdies on the front nine, including back-to-back birdies on holes two and three to make the turn at two-under-par 35.

With windy conditions playing havoc on the field, Brown, who says he is suffering a bout of influenza, gave back the two shots on the back nine with bogies on holes 16 and 18.

Despite the setback towards the end, Brown was pleased to come away with even-par heading into day two.

A great round

“It was a great round, especially with how I was feeling out there,” Brown said. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to take part, but I took some medication and ground through the rounds. I started to feel weak on the final five holes and that’s why I gave back those two shots, but even par in these windy conditions I will take it.”

Canadian Thomas Demarco and American Patrick Cover hold the clubhouse lead following their rounds of three under par 69.

The smooth swinging Demarco rattled in four birdies on the front nine then followed that up with two birdies on the back. His score could have been even better if he had not hit his ball in the ditch on hole 15 which he triple-bogeyed.

“It was a really good round,” Demarco said. “I played a lot of really good shots other than one hole where I played a couple of bad shots at the wrong time. But I have steady for most of the round and I am really happy with how the day turned out.”

Cover, who started shakily with a bogey and a double bogey on holes three and four, found his groove late in the day as he carded five birdies and an eagle on the par-five 11th hole to be tied for the lead.

On the amateur side, Jamaica’s William Knibb leads three compatriots in the top five following his three-over-par round of 75. Justin Burrowes is tied with Sean Morris following their four over par rounds of 76.

American Robert Owen shot the only under-par round, as he made four birdies and two bogies to lead another American, Preston French, in second place by five shots.