European Senior Tour player Delroy Cambridge and American pro Kirk Hanefeld weathered blustery conditions at Belmont Hills to emerge as the early pacesetters during yesterday?s opening round of the $50,000 Gosling?s Invitational Golf Tournament.

With yesterday?s turbulent conditions playing to their strengths, the two overseas pros ventured where few others even dared to dream of ? firing identical opening round scores of three-under-par 67 to open a three-shot lead over nearest rival, resident pro and unofficial course record holder Brian Morris who shot an even 70 ? yesterday?s lowest round among the local field.

Defending champion P.H.Horgan was among those who struggled to cope with yesterday?s conditions, his opening round score of six-over-par 76 leaving him well off the pace in two-way tie for 21st.

Bermuda?s Leroy Burch currently leads the amateur division after firing a respectable two-over-par 72 while Noel VanPutten shot a nine-over-par 79 to claim first place among the competitive senior division.

Yesterday?s real story, however, centred on Cambridge and Hanefeld ? the latter presently staying at the Southampton residence of local favourite Michael Sims.

Jamaican-born and Florida resident Cambridge remained bogey-free on the front nine where he made birdie at the fourth, sixth and eighth holes to make the turn at three-under-par 32 before tapping in his fourth of the round at the 329-yard par four ninth.

A bogey at the 13th proved to be the only blemish on a scorecard that would leave many of his rivals green with envy.

Cambridge hit all but two greens in regulation, such was his accuracy and control of the ball in blustery winds which wreaked havoc on the course, particularly on the more exposed back nine.

?I think I played really good today. I probably could have gone maybe two or three shots better. But that?s golf . . . everybody could have been. So I?m happy to shoot 67 today on this golf course that?s really testing,? Cambridge told .

Cambridge, a four-time winner on the European Seniors Tour, is making a first appearance in a local tournament in six years.

?I?m used to playing in these conditions in Europe. Last week I played in a senior event in the US where we also had the same windy conditions,? he added.

?You must hit it in the right spot here because if you don?t then you will encounter difficulty two-putting. The course here made me a bit nervous, mostly the greens because they are very tricky. It?s not a long course but you have to be patient and not too aggressive.

?If you make par then that?s fine because you have to try and keep things steady and keep the ball in the fairway so you can have a good shot to the green.?

Looking ahead to today?s second round, the tournament?s joint-leader and only Jamaican national ever to play on the European Senior Tour, stated: ?Hopefully I can remain steady and hit the ball in the right spots and make a few putts. I don?t really need to change anything. I just need to go out there and play one shot at a time and keep away from the big numbers because there?s still another 54 left to play.?

Despite three-putting at the fourth, seventh and 18th holes, Hanefeld still managed to rebound and grab a share of the lead.

?The golf course played pretty good even though it was a bit windy. The pins were a bit tough to get to and so it?s not surprising score were a little high,? he said.

?With the pins hard I think it?s hard to go really low but I think there?ll be some lower scores for sure.?

Where the tournament?s joint-leaders prevailed, perennial overseas contenders Ian Doig and Tim Conley and local favourites Sims and Dwayne Pearman all failed to make early inroads.

Sims, who carded a three-over-par 73 to remain six shots off the pace, stated afterwards: ?I only made one birdie but overall I?m satisfied with today?s round. The wind was up and it was tough out there and only making one birdie doesn?t really help matters.

?But this is only one round . . . I didn?t do too bad considering the conditions out there today.?

Sims? long-time friend Pearman, who doubled-bogeyed the ninth and 18th holes to finish the day at four over 74, lamented: ?That?s golf. These things happen. Today was the first day of the tournament and things can only get better.?

Pearman made a sole birdie at the 12th hole.

?I thought I putted really well on the front nine. But I didn?t make anything and kept lipping out. But that?s golf,? he added.

Conley, controversially disqualified during last year?s inaugural tournament for ?signing an incorrect scorecard? after a protest was lodged by playing partner Doig, also shot a four-over-par 74 yesterday.

?I arrived here late last night (Sunday) from Miami and forgot there?s no driving range here (Belmont),? he told .

?Standing on that first tee having not played golf for an entire week was a bit frustrating, and I?m not quite used to this golf course as yet. I didn?t really hit the ball that bad today and putted fairly well. But you just have to know where not to hit the ball sometimes out here on this course.

?But with three days left to play I know I am going to get better because I?m going to get some of my touch and feel back.?

Doig, also struggled in yesterday?s blustery conditions, entering the clubhouse at ten-over-par 80.