Golf Championships which got underway at four of the Island's courses yesterday.

In blustery conditions scores were higher than usual and, not surprisingly, three of the four joint leaders carded their sub-60 rounds at the par-70 Belmont, considered by most as the least demanding of the venues.

Atlanta National from Alpharetta, Georgia, led by long-time visitor Gordon Leslie -- a winner of the Belmont Invitational back in 1974 and 1977 -- returned both the low net (59) and low gross (64) at Belmont.

Tying their net score were Greenwich Country Club from Connecticut, led by pro Jerry Coats and Scotland's Loch Lomond, whose team includes professional Colin Campbell and visiting amateur Alex Littlejohn as well as local players Richard Keane and Ed Rego.

However, the most impressive score of the day was the 59 returned by Piper's Landing from Palm City, Florida, who played the par-71 Castle Harbour.

Piper's Landing include pro Ed McConnell as well as amateurs Ray Kalpin, Bill Burns and Richard Snyder.

Several teams are within just one or two shots of the lead after Lago Mar, Morris County, Ocean View -- the leading Bermuda club -- Schuyler Meadows and Woodland all fired rounds of 60 while St. George's of Canada, Needham and Niakwa each returned 61s.

Metuchen Golf and Country Club from New Jersey began the defence of their net title with a 67 at Mid Ocean.

Tying Atlanta National in the gross division are Ocean View and another local club, St. George's, who also shot 64 -- Ocean View, led by Dwayne Pearman, at Mid Ocean Club and St. George's, led by Kim Swan, at Castle Harbour.

The tournament continues today, Thursday and Friday with all of the clubs playing each of the four courses.

Tomorrow sees the Goodwill professional championships at Mid Ocean Club with the juniors competing for a first prize of $2,800 and the seniors for top prize of $1,700.