straight Bermuda Four Ball Championship title yesterday by taking a one-stroke lead on the opening day at Port Royal.

Pitt and Ascento shot an even par 71 in overcast conditions, the best round of the 32 teams.

They are where they want to be after the final hole is played on Sunday, but with just three shots separating them from nine other teams, the defending champions and tournament favourites know there is a lot more work to be done over the next three days.

Three teams are a stroke behind the leaders on 72...John Moore and Graham Pearson, Allan Richardson and former cricketer Quinton Sherlock Sr., and Tim Carr and Joey McRonald.

Another shot back are three more teams as a host of potential winners put themselves in early contention. On 73 are last year's runners-up Dion Mills and Dave Purcell, Ian Page and Max Atherden and Joe Roberts and Adrian Kimberley.

Visiting pair Kenny Siegfried and Carl Siegfried of the United States are the only overseas team in the top 10. They share 74 with local teams Brandon (Bees) Ingham and Noel Van Putten and Mark Dupuy and Gary Carr.

Action continues today at Port Royal when the women's 54-hole championship will begin. Defending champions Ginette Spinucci and Darlene Werhnyak, who won by five strokes last year, have not returned so the women will have new champions. A total of 14 women's teams are competing, down from 18 last year.

The large Bermuda contingent which recently participated in the Azores Open all turned in creditable performances. The lone professional Dwayne Pearman was unable to play in his division because of a rib injury, but Joe Repose proudly carried the Bermuda flag with honours in the senior division. He finished third overall to lead the local players while James Madeiros finished ninth, Terrance Rance 12th and Charles Madeiros 13th. Placings were not available for the junior division but among the most outstanding were Roger Harvey, Quinton Sherlock, Eldon Raynor, Winston Trott and Damon Mussendon.