New boy on the block Kyle Phelps did what none of the seasoned professionals could do in the rain-delayed opening round of the Goslings-Amstel Belmont Invitational yesterday.

And he did it comfortably.

The young Rhode Island professional, competing in his first Belmont tournament, was the only player among the 100-strong field to break par, surging into a three-shot lead with an impressive round of three-under-par 67.

Phelps, persuaded to enter by fellow New England pro Gary Dorsi -- he managed only a 76 yesterday -- made light of the tight Warwick links as he blazed through the back nine with an eagle at number 10 and birdies on 14, 17 and 18.

Having made the turn at one-over-par, sinking just one birdie on the opening hole offset by two of his round's three bogeys, Phelps' putter suddenly got red hot on what is generally considered a much tougher back nine.

"It was the putter that made the difference, no doubt about it,'' said Phelps, assistant pro at the Rhode Island Country Club.

"I made an awful lot of good putts on the back nine, and with the wind today that was always going to be the key to a good round.'' Despite a three-shot cushion, the Portsmouth resident said he "wasn't thinking too far ahead''.

"There's still a lot of golf to be played, anything can happen.'' Yet he admitted the increased first prize of $10,000 was a huge incentive.

"I've never won anything like that before,'' added Phelps. "It would make a very nice early Christmas present.'' His surprise performance will likely concern the rest of the pro field as they chase a purse second only to that offered in the Bermuda Open in an event now reduced to 54 holes following Monday's first round wash-out.

Phelps' closest challengers are two of his compatriots, regular Island visitors Tom Sullivan and Paul Parajeckas, who both survived the blustery conditions to post scores of even par 70.

A shot further back are Kevin Morris and Bermuda's leading contender David James, who only earned his pro card a year ago.

Keith Smith is Bermuda's next best on 72 while American Fran Marrello, winner in 1994, finds himself seven shots off the pace after a 74.

He's bunched with home course pros Barry DeCouto and Cornell Bean, and Mid Ocean's Steven DeCosta who also fired 74.

For Bermuda's two World Cup players, Dwayne Pearman and Kim Swan, it was a disappointing day as they carded 78 and 80 respectively, leaving both a mountain to climb over the final two days.

Pearman, who many believed could this year repeat his 1992 success, will have been especially upset, having made the turn a day earlier at two-under-par before the opening round was cancelled because of torrential rain.

In windy but generally kinder conditions yesterday, Pearman couldn't rediscover that form and now finds himself trailing the early leader by 11 shots.

Among the amateurs, Belmont's own Joey McRonald stormed into a four-shot lead with a sparkling one-over-par 71.

His nearest challenger was another home course specialist, Gary Carr, who fired 75 followed by Kirk Simmons on 76 and Chalmers Talbot, Bill Pitt, Andrew Bissell and Max Atherden, all on 77.

The senior professionals, playing for a first prize of $1,000, were led by Bermuda's Lloyd James and American Ed Whalley, who this time last year reinjured his hand playing in the Belmont which sparked a Goodwill tournament controversy when organisers ruled he couldn't be replaced by another pro other than one from his home club.

Both James and Whalley carded 75, three shots more than leading senior amateur Noel Van Putten who turned in an impressive 72.