NEGRIL, Westmoreland — The top seeds in the Men’s Open at the 20th Couples Swept Away Clay Court Easter tennis tournament all advanced easily to the third round as the event got underway in Negril yesterday.

Top seed Damion Johnson and defending champion and second seed Joe Cadogan both advanced with easy wins to today’s second day, setting up what is expected to be an exciting day of competition which will see the start of play in the Ladies Open as well.

The players are competing for increased prize monies with the Men’s Open champion taking home $150,000 in cash and prizes, the Ladies Open champion will get $75,000 in cash and prizes; the winners of the Pro Over 35 takes home $60,000, while the Doubles Open winners will share $15,000.

Johnson did not have to lift a racquet yesterday, as he drew a first-round bye then got a walk over win when overseas-based Byron Spence failed to show up in time.

Johnson, a Davis Cup representative, will face 10th seed Kirk Boland this morning.

Cadogan beat Chris Isburg at 6-0, 6-0 in his first-round match, then had a straight sets, 6-0, 6-1 win over Ramone Doyley and will meet ninth seed Clay Crawford today.

Third seed and many-time champion American Vince Mackey beat James Cruse 6-0, 6-0 in his second round game yesterday and will meet Davian Burrell today.

In some second round results from yesterday, Crawford beat Morris Brown 4-6 6-2 (10-6); Dwight Alexander beat Maurice Trail 6-4, 6-2, Yussuf Migoko beat Stephen Jones 6-0, 6-2, McCoy Malcolm, a semi-finalists last year, beat Floyd Logan 6-0, 6-1, and former champion Fitzroy House beat Matthew Rodriques 6-2, 7-6.