There is a familiar face at the top of the Dark N’ Stormy® World Par 3 Championship leaderboard at Turtle Hill Golf Club.

Joe Horowitz, a multiple Goslings Invitational winner, blazed a bogey-free and personal tournament best four-under par, 50 for a share of the 18-hole lead with fellow American Eric Dugas.

Horowitz was a model of consistency during yesterday’s opening round as he carded four birdies, two either side of the turn, and hit 16 greens in regulation despite the blustery conditions.

“Overall it was a great day,” the former Canadian Tour player said. “I had a fairly boring start and then just hit a lot of really quality shots.

“I was in trouble a few times. Had two pretty good ups and downs on 9 and 13 and other than that I just hit really solid shots and stayed sort of within in the framework of the green.”

Horowitz was alone at the top until Dugas, whose equally superb round included five birdies and one bogey, grabbed a share of the lead later in the day.

In third is PGA of Canada player Dustin Risdon at two under followed by Dalton Reese who is a further shot back in fourth. Tied for fifth at even par are LPGA player Kendall Dye and Mini Tours player Justin Regier.

“Flighting the ball down was a challenge, but thankfully I chose the right clubs,” Dye said.

“I had not too dramatic of a day; two bogeys and two birdies on four consecutive holes, but had a lot of fun.”

Bermuda’s Jevon Roberts leads the men’s amateur division by five shots and is tied for seventh overall at one-over par.

“A lot of things went right,” said Roberts, who also leads the overall local field and has won his division multiple times.

“It was a pretty good round of golf in the conditions.”

Trailing Roberts in second is compatriot Scott Barnett while a further shot back in third is top US women’s amateur Megan Buck.

“It was a pretty good round,” said Buck, who is playing among the men’s amateur field.

“I hit the ball pretty solid which I was happy with because I haven’t been playing that much.”

Daniel Augustus, the two-times World Par 3 Championship winner, and compatriot Dwayne Pearman hold a share of the lead among the local professionals and are among a bunch of players tied for eleventh that includes Roger Chapman, the European Senior Tour player and two-times PGA Tour Champions winner.

“Today was a decent round,” Augustus said. “I second guessed a lot of my putts which cost me a few shots, but I’m in a decent position.”

Bermuda’s Tracey Burgess and Gary Brangman were the 18-hole leaders among the women’s amateur and senior men’s divisions respectively.

The 36-hole championship concludes today.