ROSE HALL, Jamaica — First-round leader Paul Eales will go into today’s third and final round of the 50th Jamaica Open Golf tournament at the Half Moon course in Rose Hall — just outside Montego Bay — with a daunting four-shot lead after shooting an even par 72 on yesterday’s second round.

The 53-year-old from Liverpool in north-east England carded two birdies on the back nine yesterday, including a potentially massive three on the par four 18th for a two-day score of 140 after his four under 68 on Thursday.

Three players, including Jamaica’s Johnny Bloomfield who shot one over par 73 and two Americans, pre-tournament favourite Tom Gillis, and Kenny Goodykoontz, are on two-day scores of even par 144.

It could have been different for three-time champion Bloomfield but for his bogey on the 18th. He could have been just two shots back to set up another of his final-round charges.

Just two players managed to shoot an under par score yesterday in brutal conditions, with the wind that had died down a bit on Thursday returning with a vengeance. It affected just about every one of the 77 players, who also had to battle rain that started just before midday.

American Brad Adamonis and Canadian Dustin Risdon both carded one under par 71 scores.

Adamonis, who shot four over 76 on the opening day, had an uneven round and is tied for sixth place on a two-round score of three over par 147, while Risdon is tied for eighth place with four over part 148 after his five over par 77 on Thursday.

Jamaica’s Owen Samuda maintained his lead in the amateur section after shooting six over 78 yesterday for a two-round score of nine over par 153.

Ricardo Perry is second with 16 over par 160 followed by Oshae Haye, one shot back, Romaine Evans is in fourth place with 18 over par 162, and Sean Morris is in fifth place with 20 over par 164.

Yesterday, Eales said he was hoping for better weather on today’s final round where he hoped to see more low scores, but was thankful he was able to survive a tough mid-round when he dropped three shots on three straight holes with bogies at 11, 12 and 13.

“It was a good finish again today for me like yesterday, making birdies coming home,” he said.

“I was a little fortunate at 16 chipping in; it was going like a train but it hit the hole and went in, and a beautiful birdy on the last hole to recover.”

Bloomfield, who had five birdies, but also six bogies on the day, said: “It was a tough day today. I had a tough start, played well in-between and tough finish again, but still a lot of golf to be played. I got to keep plodding along and see if I can keep picking up birdies.”

Eales dropped his first shot at the par three third hole, but had birdies on the sixth and eighth holes before his almost-spectacular meltdown between the 11th and 13th holes. But as he did on Thursday, he came home strong to rescue the round and maintain his lead.

Today, Eales, Bloomfield and Gillis will be in the final group scheduled to tee off at 11:30 am and, unless there is a major upset, the winner should come from this group.