the top net teams on the four respective courses as the 47th Bermuda Goodwill Golf Tournament got underway yesterday in ideal conditions.

Westchester Hills of White Plains, New York, who are led by professional Kevin Morris, had the best round of the day when they completed 18 holes at Castle Harbour with an outstanding net 54.

That team, which also includes Frank Bensel, Joe Christiano and Vic Pizzolato, lead Bermuda's Port Royal, captained by pro Frankie Rabain and including Michael Tavares, Leon James and Francis Mussenden, by a single stroke after the locals rounded Riddell's Bay in 55.

Riddell's Bay is being used for the first time in several years as a replacement for Belmont and is regarded as the easiest of the four layouts.

Just four strokes separate the top seven clubs, with Garden City of New York shooting a 56 at Port Royal and Crystal Springs (Hamburg, New Jersey) and Lookout Point (Ontario) both shooting 57s at Riddell's Bay. Also in contention are Bedrock and Metuchen who had rounds of 58 at Castle Harbour.

Local teams Mid Ocean and Southampton Princess shot 59s at Castle Harbour and Riddell's Bay while Belmont are a stroke behind after their 60 at Riddell's Bay.

A total of 77 teams are competing in the tournament which is down on the 85 clubs that played last year. Numbers have dwindled considerably since over 100 teams participated in 1997.

In the gross division, Crystal Springs lead on 61, one stroke ahead of Metuchen and Westchester Hills. Navesink are fourth on 63 while five other teams, Bass Rock, Garden City, Country Club of Vermont, Brick Landing and Marshfield, are on 64.

A hole-in-one was recorded at Port Royal yesterday by Steve Sieg, the pro of Navesink who hails from Middletown, New Jersey.

Play continues throughout this week, with the professional championships scheduled for Wednesday at Port Royal when some $21,000 will be handed out in prize money in the junior and senior divisions, including $3,200 for first place in the juniors and $1,900 for the winner of the senior division.

Hat-trick hopes: Jimmy Noris, professional from the Dedham Country and Polo Club in Dedham, Massachusetts, is hoping to lead his team to a history-making third consecutive triumph in this week's Goodwill Golf Tournament. But the team are facing an uphill battle after shooting a net 64 -- 10 shots off the lead -- in their opening round at Mid Ocean Club yesterday.