When it comes to qualifiers anywhere in the world, everyone wants to play a local ? and Bermuda is no exception.

That proved to be true at the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association?s Devonshire headquarters yesterday as visitor after visitor took advantage of the ?soft? draw of an Islander on day one of the eagerly-anticipated Bermuda Squash Open.

That is not to say the Bermudians didn?t hold their own, with Nick Wiffen, Tommy Sherratt and Gary Plumstead in particular excelling, but when you are in the top 66 in the world, a game against an amateur is always the dream draw.

Gary Plumstead, who returned to his day job of coaching within hours of his defeat, was the first to fall, going down fighting against Graham Ryding.

The 31-year-old, once a semi-finalist in his native South Africa?s national championships, put in an excellent showing before losing 15-9, 15-9, 15-13 in the opening match of the tournament against the world number 16.

?I was pretty happy with the way that went,? said a tired Plumstead, who, like all losing qualifiers, had the ignominy of having to referee the next match after his defeat.

?The guy I was playing is a very wristy player, which means you can?t start running until he has played his stroke.

?That basically means you are starting every shot half-a-second later than you would like, making it very difficult to compete.

?My tactics were to go for winners wherever I could ? there is always a risk in doing that as there are going to be some that don?t make it, but it is the best way to play against a player whose fitness is so much higher than mine.?

Plumstead nearly achieved the goal set by all Bermudians competing yesterday ? of winning a game ? but despite leading 13-12 in the final game he was unable to dig out the two further winners needed.

Wiffen, the oldest player in the tournament, is another who came off Court Two proud of his achievements.

Despite his relative squash anonymity, the diminutive Wiffen punched well above his weight, doggedly competing in every rally but ultimately going down 15-3, 15-9, 15-6 to Peter Barker.

Although never threatening victory, or anything close to it, the 32-year-old can be delighted that he stretched his opponent to the extent he did ? and did it all with a big smile on his face.

?That was brilliant, I really enjoyed that,? said Wiffen, a science teacher at Saltus.

?These guys are good, and they are very fit, but they are not invincible. The sharpness these boys have got is the big difference.

?I was very happy with the way I played out there, I feel I did well.? And for Wiffen, who is leaving the Island at the end of July, he had a taste of what could have been.

?If I was ten years younger, I think I would have a real stab at tournaments,? said Wiffen, who explained his on-court asides and jokes as a way or ridding himself of ?nervous tension?.

?The only reason I had even a chance of staying in the rallies was because I have been playing against guys like Nick Kyme and James Stout recently.

?They have really pulled my standard up.?

Sherratt, playing in the day?s final match, also put in a strong performance, going down to Paul Price, who is staying at his father Roger?s house during the tournament, but picking up 16 points along the way.

?I was very happy with the way I played,? said Sherratt, who was blowing so much he could hardly stand by the last game of his 3-0 defeat.

?I was pleased that I hit some outright winners. Playing an opponent like this really can help you raise your game ? I have come away from this a better player, I?m sure.?

An intriguing set of games are guaranteed today as eight players battle over four games for the right to take to the main court tomorrow.

Ryding, Plumstead?s conqueror, takes on Barker, who beat Wiffen, for a game against Lee Beachill while Olli Touminen, who beat Canadian Matthew Giuffre will take on Garner, who eased past Stout, for a game against Bermudian resident David Palmer in the main draw.

The other two games will see Dan Jensen taken on Englishman Adrian Grant, who defeated Danish carpenter and fisherman Mikkel Karsbjerg in an acrimonious encounter while Professional Squash Association president Mark Chaloner will meet on Price, victor over Sherratt.