admitted, a little nervous.

So how did the two-time Senior PGA Tour player of the year make out in his first competitive round of golf since undergoing surgery for prostate cancer nearly four months ago? Well, if first place and a share of the $450,000 top prize in the Gillette Tour Challenge at Mid Ocean Club yesterday is any indication, very well.

Teamed with Nick Price and Kelly Robbins in the $1.8 million best-ball event, Colbert, 56, reported no pain and no worries heading into his full return to the Senior PGA Tour at next week's Kaanapali Classic in Hawaii.

"I felt really good about my game and I can't wait to get started,'' Colbert said after rolling in three of his team's 11 birdies on the par 70, 6,500-yard Mid Ocean course.

That was not the case on June 23, when he had his cancerous prostate gland removed at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, California. But Colbert said yesterday he never doubted that he would return to the career that has earned him some $6 million.

"That was never in my thoughts,'' he said. "My doctors and everybody said it wouldn't be that big a problem and I had a great surgeon. I never had any problems.'' Eight weeks after surgery he was out hitting golf balls -- but then succumbed to arthroscopic surgery five weeks ago when his knee filled with fluid.

Finally, two weeks ago, he was back on the course, playing a couple of practice rounds at the Ryder Cup in Valderrama, Spain.

That's a quick recovery but even that pales in comparison to Arnold Palmer's return from prostate surgery in January.

"I had the same operation as him and I can't believe how quickly he came back,'' said Colbert. "I thought, `I'm going to let Arnold do that. I'm going to take my time.'' Colbert started slowly yesterday but had Robbins and Price to carry him through the first couple of holes. He soon found his rhythm, nailing birdie putts on the seventh and 13th holes, then completing the victory with a 25-footer on the 18th. And there were three other putts that had birdie written on them only to lip out.

Colbert's biggest fear had to do with letting down Price and Robbins, two stars of their respective tours.

"I could live with whatever I did,'' said Colbert, a New Jersey native now living in Las Vegas. "But there was actually a little more pressure because I didn't want to be a drag to them.'' He didn't have to worry. Said Robbins: "I think it's great to see him back.

Going through something like that is tough, not only physically but mentally.

I've known Jim for a couple of years and it was good just to be able to play with him. We had a really good time.'' HOW THEY FINISHED Final scores and prizemoney after yesterday's Gillette Tour Challenge at Mid Ocean Club: 59 Nick Price/Jim Colbert/Kelly Robbins, $150,000 each.

61 Lee Janzen/Bob Murphy/Barb Mucha, $87,500 each.

61 Payne Stewart/Walter Morgan/Karrie Webb, $87,500 each.

62 Scott Hoch/Gil Morgan/Michelle McGann, $60,000 each.

62 Mark Brooks/Hale Irwin/Annika Sorenstam, $60,000 each.

62 Fred Couples/Graham Marsh/Nancy Lopez, $60,000 each.

64 John Cook/Lee Trevino/Sally Little, $50,000 each.

65 Craig Stadler/Jay Sigel/Chris Johnson, $45,000 each.

HE'S BACK! -- Senior Tour star Jim Colbert played his first tournament yesterday since undergoing surgery in June, and celebrated with victory.

TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE -- Mark Brooks (left) surveys a difficult putt on the fourth hole while Chris Johnson (right) plays from a difficult lie in the bunker at number six.