Joell, Pat Morgan leads by three strokes on the opening day of the two rounds of qualifying for the 64th Bermuda Womens Amateur Championship at Mid Ocean yesterday.

With Marshall, Astwood and Joell all missing because of the World Amateur Championships in France, defending champion Lisa Griffin is expected to get her stiffest test from Morgan and another US visitor, Hannah Steel. Morgan shot a 74 yesterday and Steel a 77 while a further four strokes behind in third place is American Helen Stovell on 81.

Once again the event has been hit by a small field. A year ago the organisers switched the event from a match play to a stroke play and this year they format has again been changed slightly.

With just 16 local and overseas players entered, there will be two rounds of qualifying to determine the championship and first flight rounds of eight for match play starting tomorrow and ending on Friday.

Griffin, as the defending champion, is exempt from competing in the qualifying rounds and will enter the match play as the top seed. Four of the top five positions yesterday were occupied by visitors with Valerie Nearon (84) having the second best round by a local player which leaves her in sixth place.