tie for the lead in the first round of the 19th annual Lobster Pot Pro-Am Championships at Castle Harbour yesterday.

Former Pot pro champion and Belmont Invitation winner Tim Conley carded the day's best round of five-under 66 as he led his Rosemont team from Akron, Ohio to a net total of 123.

But that was matched by the teams of Woburn Country Club from Woburn, Massachusetts and Avila Golf Club from Tampa, Florida, whose pros also played a leading role in their success.

Woburn's Paul Parajeckas, like Conley a regular visitor to Bermuda's big golf events, shot a four-under 67 and Avila's D.J.Holland was just a shot back on 68.

Woburn's team includes tournament host Fritz Reiter.

The three leaders are one stroke ahead of Oakland Golf Club from Oakland, Maryland whose 124 total was helped by a one-over 72 from their pro Wheeler Stewart.

Scores are decided on a four-ball, two-best-ball format with the three amateurs in each team playing off three quarters handicap.

In the gross division Rosemont top the leaderboard on 134, two shots up on Avila (136) and six ahead of third placed Woburn (140).

Today sees the second round of the tournament with the third and final round scheduled for Friday.

Inbetween local amateurs will team up with the overseas pros for a Charity Pro-Am tomorrow and on Thursday the pros will do battle for a $10,000 purse in the annual professional championship.