TRYALL, Hanover — American Patrick Cover will take a seven-shot lead into today’s final round of the 55th Jamaica Golf Association Open at Tryall Club in Hanover after shooting a second round three under par 69 on Monday’s second round of the 54-hole championships.

Cover, who is seeking his second title since winning in 2019, is on 11 under par 133 and could have been much further in front as he was 14 under par when he ran into trouble on the par four 17th hole where he shot a three over seven after hitting his approach shot out of bounds.

Cover said the plan going into today’s final day was to continue playing well.

“I will just try to play another good round of golf. I think I have a pretty good lead but I will try to keep it in play and make putts,” he said on Monday.

After his error-free first day, he was almost at the finish line when he ran into trouble on the second to last hole.

“I had a hiccup on 17, hit it out of play first for my penalty shot, this course can do that to you.”

Americans filled the first four positions with defending champion Michael Maguire in second on four under par 140 after a 71 one under par on Monday, followed by Ryan Linton who slipped one place on 141 three under par; Josh Anderson is one shot back on two under 142 while Trinidad and Tobago’s Benjamin Martin in fifth place on a one under 143 after his five under 67 on Monday.

Jamaica’s Wesley Brown, who was third over night, slumped to joint 15th place on two over 146 after a good start on Monday.

Defending amateur champion Justin Burrowes leads the amateur section with two over par 146, followed by Zandre Roye four shots back on six over 150 with William Knibbs third with 10 over par 154.

Cover had four straight birdies between the sixth and ninth holes and more on the 13th and 15th holes before his “hiccup” on the 17th hole.

Maguire, who shot a three under 69 on the first day, had a one under 71 on Monday, while Linton, who shot four under 68 on Sunday, shot one over 73 Monday.

Trinidad’s Martin had the best score of the day when he carded a five under 67 after shooting a four over part 76 on Sunday and had a mixed day with two eagles, five birdies as well as two bogies and a double bogey.

Jamaica’s Brown was well set as after shooting three under on the first day, was six under par at the eighth hole when his luck changed with a bogey on the ninth and two more on the 10th and 13th, then back-to-back double bogies on the 14th and 15th holes and a double bogey on the 18th hole.

“I got a little impatient, especially on the tee shots, short-sighted myself and started three putting and it was a long day,” he said afterwards, describing the conditions as “a lot more windy and a lot more challenging”.