first-round lead in the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships.

Playing in his backyard at Port Royal -- he is an employee of the course -- Ascento was able to overcome putting woes to post a two-over-par-73 which put him one stroke ahead of the second placed competitor Tor Buswick. It was a marked improvement from last year when he stood tied for 10th place at the same stage and if not for a few botched efforts at finding the cup his advantage could have been much greater.

Buswick raised a few eyebrows with some stellar play and served notice to the favourites of his intentions. Meanwhile, lurking alone in third place was defending champion Duncan Zelkin who produced a workmanlike performance in firing a 76, however, like Ascento he too had problems with his short game.

"He (Ascento) didn't putt well and I didn't either,'' said Zelkin, who became the event's youngest champion when he won it last year at age 19. "I three-putted a couple holes and missed a few other short putts. I wasn't stroking the ball well today and didn't find the greens in such great shape, but it was the same for everybody.

"I was generally pleased with the way I hit the ball all round. I only got into trouble once on nine.'' Zelkin was careful not to read too much into the first day's results, emphasising that there was a lot of golf left to be played.

Asked what he thought might be a low enough score to win the tournament Zelkin said that a four-day total of 300 should be sufficient.

Last year's runner up Tim Carr found himself floundering down the list after carding a 79 and will have to improve significantly if he is to come close to his performance of a year ago.

EARLY LEADER -- Henry Ascento.