Defending champion Jarryd Dillas and new partner Will Haddrell are tied for the first-day lead with another of the pre-tournament favourites in the Bermuda Amateur Four-Ball Championships at Port Royal.

The pairings of Dillas and Haddrell and Jevon Roberts and Mark Phillips shot four-under par 67 to lead by four strokes over Rod Forrest and Kirk Viehl who finished with an even-par 71. A further stroke back on 72 are Geoff Piggott and Ian Page. Joshua Cabrera and David Smith (73) complete the top five.

Dillas, who won the last two men’s titles with Nicholas Mansell, is aiming for a third straight title and fifth overall. He and Haddrell carded an eagle and four birdies and two bogeys in their round while Roberts and Phillips shot five birdies and one bogey.

In the women’s division, defending champion Elizabeth Parsons and her new partner Ebonie Burgess recorded an eight-over par 79 to take a five-stroke lead on the first day.