Jarryd Dillas and Richard Neame held a share of the lead after yesterday’s opening round of the Bermuda Stroke Play Championships at Port Royal Golf Course.

The local pair coped best in the windy conditions, carding identical rounds of three-over-par 74 that left them two shots clear of nearest rivals and compatriots Mark Phillips, Jevon Roberts and Will Haddrell.

Dillas was at even par through 11 holes but lost momentum after carding a double bogey at the par four, 12th and a bogey at the par three, 13th.

Neame’s round followed in a similar vein as he too was steady on the front nine before three bogeys coming in stalled his charge. Former winner Dillas returned to the clubhouse with the outright lead until Neame, playing in a group behind him, rolled in his third birdie on the last hole to draw level heading into today’s second round.

Closely behind are two-times defending champion Phillips, Roberts and past winner Haddrell, who all shot five over par 76 to keep pace with the leaders.

Ian Page leads the senior men’s division by three shots over Terry Mullan.

Page’s round of six over par 77 included three birdies and two double bogeys either side of the turn.

In third is former Cup Match cricketer Gary Brangman, who carded a ten over par 81 that included a hole in one at the par three, 13th. Also coming in at ten over par was Hav Trott, the defending senior men’s champion.

Trott got his title defence off to a rocky start with a double bogey on the first hole, which pretty much set the tone for the rest of the day.

In the women’s division, competition for Ebonie Burgess’s vacant crown is fierce with Kathy Lloyd-Hines, Linda Down and Elizabeth Parsons emerging as the early pacesetters after carding identical rounds of 12-over- par 83.

Three shots behind is Katrin Burnie who carded a 15-over-par 86, with Jennifer Rymill a further two shots adrift in fifth.