Defending champion Robert Vallis picked up where he left off a year ago as he carded an impressive one-under-par 70 at Port Royal yesterday to share the first round lead of the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships.

Winner also of the Match Play Championships in March, the local doctor who celebrated his 50th birthday earlier this year, has been looking over his shoulder for some time at a fast-improving group of Bermuda youngsters.

And there was sufficient evidence at the par-71 Southampton course yesterday to suggest that his greatest threat over the weekend will emerge from one of the `new kids on the block'.

Tied for the lead is Jarryd Dillas, who made his mark at the World Junior Championships with a top ten finish last summer and later represented Bermuda at the World Amateur Team Championships while sharing third place behind the two leaders are three of the Island's other most promising young players - Sergio Edness, Aaron James and David Smith.

That trio all returned scores of two-over-par 73 to put themselves firmly in contention in the 72-hole tournament.

Also in the hunt are Franklyn Furbert who carded 74, Match Play semi-finalist David Allison (76) and another of the young guns, Fraser Hunt (76).

While second round play for the men gets underway this morning, Port Royal will also host the first round of the 54-hole ladies' Strokeplay Championship in which all eyes will be on former amateur champion Kim Marshall.

The Wake Forest graduate, who went on to play professionally, regained her amateur status earlier this year and will be playing her first major tournament since that reinstatement.

Full men's first round scores, see Scoreboard.