amateur golf tournament in the US -- leaving in his wake a number of top Americans including Matt Kuchar, the celebrated US amateur who played in last month's Masters.

Sims, who in less than a month's time will defend his Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay crown at Port Royal, fired a superb two-under-par 69 in the opening round of the 54-hole NCAA East Regionals at Rhode Island Country Club in Providence.

Essentially a team competition, the event has attracted many of America's top college amateurs with the leading 10 teams qualifying for the NCAA finals.

Sims, a sophomore at Rhode Island university who in 1998 was voted Rookie of the Year, led his team into a tenth place finish at the end of the first day as he shared the individual lead with Georgia Tech's Bryce Moulder and another player from Duke University.

Kuchar, also of Georgia Tech, was a stroke back on one-under 70.

Sims' round included five birdies and three bogeys on the tough par-71 lay-out. Among those watching was his father, Bruce.

His mother, Carol, who is in Bermuda, said last night: "We're absolutely delighted. Hopefully, he can put together another good round tomorrow.'' Michael Sims: tied for first at the NCAA East Regionals.