discomfort of a chest cold to shoot the best round on the opening day of the $40,000 Bermuda Open at Port Royal, sponsored by the Bermuda Angle Group.

The 30-year-old pro who hails from Matropolis, Illinois, had the only sub-par total on the opening day, a one-under 70, as he went from a two-over 38 on the front nine to finish with the best back nine of three-under 32. Riegger shot five birdies and had two bogeys on the back nine to return to the clubhouse a very satisfied man.

And by the time the rest of the scores were posted it showed that Riegger, who finished tied for third in the 1990 tournament, was holding on to a one-stroke lead over fellow American pros Ed Kirby, Kevin Morris and Rusty Pies, all on even-par 71.

"I'm happy with it,'' Riegger said of his round afterwards as he relaxed in the clubhouse. "I've been sick the last three days and didn't get out of bed yesterday (Wednesday). I had a chest cold and I couldn't shake it.

"Starting out I didn't feel that good. I was one under through the first three holes but I double bogeyed the fourth and bogeyed number seven. It could have been even better. I putted good but as any round goes you will make some and miss some.'' Fortunately for Riegger he made more than he missed, especially on the back nine having trailed Kirby, Morris and Pies after the front nine, with Pies leading Kirby by one stroke.

"I just tried to go out and not shoot myself out of contention,'' said the leader. "Like the saying goes, always be wary of those who are sick.'' Riegger's fine round was in sharp contrast to a disappointing 80 by the defending champion Gene Fieger, who will have his work cut out for him over the next three days of the tournament if he is to propel himself back into contention.

"If nobody breaks par today it keeps everyone in the game,'' said an optimistic Fieger before most of the top players had completed their first round.

"The golf course played hard, it was windy and it doesn't help when you lose a couple of balls,'' said the champion. "And I didn't make a birdie.'' Fieger finished his round with five bogeys and two double bogeys, saying the par-four 11th was the toughest.

"When you hit a two iron off the tee 465 yards into 30 mile an hour wind it wasn't what I would call an easy par four,'' Fieger says.

Scott Mayne, who just regained his amateur status, is both the top local and leading amateur after his 72 which leaves him in the top six. Mayne had played down his chances going into this tournament, citing the lack of tournament play, but yesterday flashes of the old Scott Mayne could be seen.

He was two-over par after the front nine, went to one-over with a birdie three on the 10th and then hit a bogey five on the 11th to return to two over. Mayne then reeled off five straight pars before getting back to one-over on the 17th with a birdie four. His 72 was an improvement on the 73 he shot on the weekend to share first place in the BGA medal play at the same course.

Mayne is the only amateur in the top 16 places, with another local, Dave Purcell, second behind him in the amateur category with a three-over-par 74.

Tied with Scott on 72 are visiting pros Mark Carens and Peter McCutcheon while local pro Kim Swan, a past winner, should be pleased with his 73 which keeps him right in there with the early leaders.

A stroke behind Purcell is Swan's Bermuda World Cup teammate Dwayne Pearman on 75.

Tim Carr, the winner of the amateur division last year, is also on 75 while last year's overall runner-up Craig Marseilles of Canada is on 74 with six others.

The tournament continues to Sunday with a cut-off in the top half of the field after tomorrow's third round.

See page 30 for first day scores.

OUR MAYNE MAN -- Scott Mayne was the top local and leading amateur, shooting a 72 during the opening round of the Bermuda Open yesterday.