Amateur Dave Allison was the surprise joint leader after the blustery first round of the Bermuda Open yesterday.

Teeing off early and thus avoiding the worst of the gusts, Allison shot even-par 71 to send shockwaves down the leaderboard at Port Royal where a number of pros struggled to cope with the inconsistent winds, particularly on the 15th and 16th holes.

The amateur was tied for first with New Yorker Chris Damaino, but it was his performance that was the talk of the 19th hole.

?I was really happy with par,? said Allison, back at his desk 75 minutes after completing his round in which he was two-under with four to play.

?The wind was pretty strong out there even early on and to be at the top of the leaderboard after day one is great.

?I?m not thinking I can win this thing, but then again I am not ruling myself out either.

?My goal before we started was to retain my amateur title and try and get a top ten finish.

?That hasn?t changed but we will have to see what happens.

?I need three more rounds like that which might be enough to win it and I know I am capable of that, but the pros are more consistent.

?But who knows, I could shoot two 86s and miss the cut.?

Allison, who has broken par at Port Royal a ?handful of times? has a best round of 69 on the course and is clear favourite to retain his amateur title which he won last year by 15 shots.

Another local amateur Leroy Burch fired 72 to put him in joint fourth place.

Meanwhile, last year?s pro winner P.H. Horgan set his stall out to defend his crown with a hard-fought 72.

The 44-year-old, who also won this event in 1986, parred the first nine holes on his way to joint third place.

?It was tough out there, but that is what makes Bermuda golf what it is ? and that is why we love coming here,? said Horgan, a former PGA Tour pro and college football star who opened with a 74 on his way to the title last year.

?It was a lot calmer last year and the wind was really making things interesting.

?What I like about this course is that there is danger lurking just off every fairway.

?The back nine was pretty tough, I birdied ten but mis-clubbed on 13 and again on 16 which has to be one of the best par-threes in the world.

?But overall I am happy with my start and will just see what happens over the next few days.?

Horgan, who played half a Nationwide Tour season after his win here last year, believes he can relaunch a PGA Tour career with another win here ? although admits he will need to iron out flaws in his putting technique if that is to happen.

Two players are tied on two-over behind Horgan ? Jeff Hatch and Bruce Rogerson ? while Andrew Trott, as he did in last year?s tournament, leads the home pros. The Tucker?s Point pro shot 74.