Amateur Strokeplay Championships -- and yesterday found it was well worth his while.

Kiley, a stockbroker from New York, now living in California, took a joint one stroke lead with 1994 winner Henry Ascento after the first of four rounds at Port Royal.

Their one-over-par 72s put them just ahead of Hav Trott, with Andrew Trott a shot further back on 74 and 19-year-old Michael Sims, the young Bermudian on a golf scholarship at the University of Rhode Island, a further stroke back on 75.

Three-time winner Robert Vallis was five shots off the pace on 77, while Duncan Zelkin, another former winner and runner-up a year ago, struggled to an eight-over 79. Last year's winner Mark Dupuy was absent from the field of 67 which started play yesterday because of business commitments.

The top four finishers among the leading 12 players on Bermuda's Order of Merit as well as Sims will represent Bermuda in the World Amateur Team Championships in Santiago, Chile, later this year.

Meanwhile, the ladies' 54-hole tournament gets underway today, with Alisa Hardy, runner-up last year, and Pat Morgan looking the likeliest to take over the absent Madeline Joell's crown.

Both the 72-hole men's and 54-hole women's tournaments wind up on Monday.

JEFF KILEY -- fired a first round one-over-par 72 to share the early lead with Port Royal's Henry Ascento in the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships.