Golf Club set a blistering pace to open the Eighth Annual Bermuda Easter Lily Pro-Am ladies golf tournament yesterday.

Belmont, taking advantage of home course advantage, finished with an 11-under 59 for a three-stroke lead over International Town and Country Club of Virginia.

Astwood and her team of Linda Fenton, Gilda Furbert and Lesley Watson will try and keep up the pace during the second round at Port Royal today.

International, led by pro Jennifer Buchanan with Sandy Davis, Lynn Bucaro and Sandy Buchanan are poised to mount a challenge in their first Easter Lily appearance. Another stroke back at 63 are Congressional CC and Regency Travel.

Also making her pro debut yesterday was former Wake Forest university star Kim Marshall, whose Lobster Pot team had to settle for a 65 and a tie for sixth place.

The gross division is up for grabs, with defending champions Chevy Chase of Maryland holding a one-shot lead over Team Storie. Chevy Chase were led by Cindy Pallitino of Denver, Colorado, who took all honours in both closest to the pin and both longest drive competitions.

Her team-mates are Joy Bonhurst, Bailey Schuerer and Pressie Hoffman. Pro Gloria Ehret, Astoria Edwards, Romaine Bascome and Macy Clapp comprise the Storie squad.

SMASHING DEBUT -- Judithanne Astwood, long one of Bermuda's top female golfers, yesterday made her professional debut, helping her Belmont team to the first-round lead in the Easter Lily Tournament.