the first round of the 72-hole Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships at Port Royal this morning.

Sims finished 20 strokes behind winner Mark Dupuy last year, but Dupuy is missing away on business this time round, and the teenager is itching to show off the fruits of his first year on a golf scholarship at the University of Rhode Island.

The youngster harbours hopes of a pro career in the future and according to university coach Tom Drennan, who has seen him make a name for himself on the US college scene, that shouldn't be beyond him.

He was named the university's rookie of the year and, Drennan noted: "Michael is the reason we've done as well as we have. He's matured a lot and mentally, he's a much better player.'' But a win in the Strokeplay and a place in the World Amateur Team Championships is Sims' immediate goal.

However, unlike last year's tournament, there are plenty of former champions bidding to stop him in a field of 66, marginally up from last year.

Duncan Zelkin, winner in 1993 and runner-up five shots behind Dupuy in 1997, is one of them. Three time winner Robert Vallis is another, along with 1994 champion Henry Ascento.

Sims' sister Lindsay is among another small field in the women's 54-hole event which starts tomorrow. With no Madeline Joell, winner last year, it is likely to come down to a shoot-out between Alisa Hardy, who finished two strokes behind Joell 12 months ago and Pat Morgan.