Daniel Augustus made a positive start to the Florida Elite Golf Tour Championship at Orange County National Golf Club in Orlando yesterday.

The Bermuda professional carded an even par 72, which contained three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey, to finish the first 18 holes tied for 85th in a field of 145.

Augustus was two under through 17 holes but made double bogey on the final hole after his tee shot ended up in a hazard.

“I was happy at that point but my last hole, the ninth hole, I ended up making a double and that was poor,” Augustus said.

“It was a mental error that comes from not playing for a couple weeks, but it was a poor mental error on the tee box.

“If I make par there it actually is a decent round. I just hit a really poor tee shot into the hazard and ended up taking a double.”

The 31-year-old is competing in his first tournament since withdrawing during the second round of the Ocala Open at Candler Hills Golf Club in Ocala, Florida, last month because of a back injury.

Augustus made a flying start after rolling in a birdie on the opening hole at the 10th.

However, he gave a shot right to the course after making bogey at the 11th to go to even par where he remained at the turn.

The former Bermuda Open winner birdied the 3rd and 7th to dip to two under before the double bogey at the 9th took some off the gloss of his round.

“I was hitting it good off the tee but the approach shots weren’t good at all,” Augustus said. “I’ve just got to tidy up the iron shots. I definitely had some bright spots in spite of not playing for a couple of weeks and getting over the injury. I’m thinking about the positives.

“Hopefully I can go out there tomorrow [today] and shoot a decent number and make the cut, so I can make a paycheque.”

Augustus is in contention for free entry for the first stage of Q-School for the Web.com Tour reserved for the end of season points leader, which will be determined at the 54-hole event.

Meanwhile, Michael Balcar and Johnny Watts entered the clubhouse with a share of a one-shot lead after both carded eight under during the opening round yesterday.