on to a share of the lead with former champion Joe Carr after the first day of the Gosling's Amstel Belmont Invitation Championship.

Mayne, who fired a one-over-par 71 on a blustery day which saw scores balloon, began the morning nervous about his chances on the first day of the four-day tournament.

It turns out that he had nothing to be worried about.

Others, however, were not so lucky.

Defending tournament champion Dwayne Pearman saw his chances of keeping his title disappear as quickly as you can say Gone With the Wind .

Pearman shot a 13-over-par 83, but was in select company with other well-known golfers like Malcolm Gosling (84), Frank Rabain (84), Eardley Jones (84) and Noel Van Putten (85), who dug themselves into a deep hole.

Pearman, who recently represented the Island in the World Cup in Florida along with Kim Swan, was the pick of the local pros to win this year's tournament.

"It was a tough day out there,'' said Mayne, referring to the windy conditions on the course. "I'm sure all the scores are really high.

"I couldn't stay still enough to putt, that was how hard it was. Basically, I was just trying to survive. I just tried to keep the ball in play, I just tried to make par.'' Mayne birdied the fifth and 10th holes and bogeyed the sixth, ninth and 14th, while attempting to tame the course and high winds at Belmont.

In third place is Paul Parajeckas with a two-over-par 72 and in fourth is one-time champion and local favourite Tim Conley from the US, who carded a 73.

St. George's pro Swan, who shot 74, is locked in a fierce logjam for fifth spot with Lloyd James and Tim Carr.

Among those tied for eighth is another one-time champion, Hav Trott, who shot a five-over-par 75. Keeping Trott company is Anthony Mocklow, Bob Mucha and Frank Szymkowicz.

"I think there's a very fine line between shooting a 71 and 81, so I feel very sympathetic,'' said Mayne, the top amateur at this year's Bermuda Open in October. Mayne appears to be picking up from where he left off after last week's impressive 66 in the BGA Medal at Ocean View.

That, along with yesterday's 71, could mean that he is poised to regain the title he won back in 1986.

"I was very fortunate to start well and if I had started badly I would have blown my game mentally. But it takes four days to play this tournament.

"I guess I just woke up on the right side of the bed.'' The tournament, celebrating its 21st anniversary, features a field made up of 86 amateurs and 38 professionals.

The event continues until Thursday with $14,000 (first prize $3,000) at stake for the professionals.