Michael Sims has earned himself a new nickname ? sizzling Sims.

In his first-ever appearance as a professional at the Bermuda Open, a fired up Sims blazed his away around Port Royal, setting a new course record of seven-under-par 64 to seize a two-shot lead over American Tim Conley and Canada?s Ian Doig.

Nationwide Tour pro Richard Johnson (68), USPGA player Jon Denney (69) and Bermuda?s Dwayne Pearman (69) also completed yesterday?s opening round under par while locals Andrew Trott and current amateur division leader Damon Smith and American Gary Hines all entered the clubhouse at even par 71.

Defending Open champion PH Horgan III was a distant nine shots off the pace after carding a two-over-par 73.

The day belonged to Sims whose record-breaking performance came after a four-year break from the Island?s biggest tournament.

A combined seven birdies ? including three in a row on the back nine ? underlined a bogey-free round in which Sims? all-round game fired on all cylinders.

His scintillating score bettered the tournament?s previous best of six-under-par 65 set two years ago by Doig, who witnessed the Bermudian?s assault on the record books up close and personal having been paired alongside the 26-year-old pro.

After setting the course ablaze, a composed Sims told : ?I think I played very well out there today. I hit the ball well and putted well and overall it feels good to be back home.?

Sims made a solid start to yesterday?s opening round, shooting par on the first four holes before tapping in birdies at the par-four fifth and par-five seventh holes.

?I was playing fairly steady golf at that point. I was right on top of my game,? he added.

Making the turn at two-under 34, Sims birdied the first two holes on the back nine before going on a birdie blitz at the 15th, 16th and 17th and closing out with a par on the final hole.

?To be honest I did not even know my score today was a new record,? Sims added. ?But overall I thought I played much better golf on the back nine today because I was able to hit the ball closer to the hole. I thought I also putted very well today and it?s always good to leave a mark and have lowest score of the day.?

A missed birdie putt at the 13th proved to be the only blot on Sims? copybook.

?Other than that, I thought I played good golf today.?

Shortly after watching his record fall, Doig conceded: ?Records are meant to be broken and that record was broken by a really good round of golf today by a great young player.

?My hat goes off to Michael Sims because he played a really good round of golf. I was actually trying to break it (record) myself today but I just couldn?t make enough putts.

?But I had a lot of fun out there today paired with Michael. This was the first time ever playing with him and I was very impressed. He?s going to be on the PGA Tour if he keeps playing like that.?

Doig, a former winner of the Belmont Invitational, managed five birdies three of which came on the front nine.

?It was fun to watch Michael play but I was also into my own score,? he added. ?I was really focused early in my round and made some really good up and downs out of the bunkers for par. But I also felt like I missed four or five birdie putts during the round as well. We will have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.?

After carding a opening round 66 to keep pace with the leader, Conley said: ?I saw Michael smiling out there all day and so I figured he was playing pretty good golf. But I look forward to playing with him on Saturday and Sunday . . . the old versus the young, experience versus talent.

?Overall today I thought I only made two bad swings on 15 and 16. But I managed to get them up and down to save the round.?

The PGA Tour golfer carded five birdies and also enjoyed a bogey-free round in the slightly overcast conditions.

?I?m still playing good golf. I love it here in Bermuda and the golf course is in great shape,? he added.

?The greens are firm and have lots of grass on them, the fairways and tees are good and weather conditions are not bad at all.?

Smith holds a slim one-shot lead over past amateur champion Dave Allison (72) and a two-shot lead over another former amateur winner, Leroy Burch, who carded a 73 yesterday.

?I thought I played well overall. I made two birdies and didn?t put myself in any trouble off the tee,? said Allison, last year?s surprise overall opening day leader.

?But I couldn?t hole any putts. I just didn?t get the breaks,? he lamented. ?I thought the pins were quite accessible today and there was absolutely no wind. But overall I?m happy with a 72 today and my aim tomorrow is to go out there and enjoy a very good round of golf.?