Senior British OpenEduardo Romero didn't allow the testing crosswind at Royal Portrush spoil his European Senior Tour debut as the Argentine claimed a share of the first-round lead in the £1 million Senior British Open yesterday.

The tour's most recent addition, having turned 50 last Saturday, carded a composed, three-under 69 to quickly erase the disappointment of missing the cut at last week's British Open in Troon. He leads alongside Scotland's John Chillas, American Don Pooley and England's Jim Rhodes on a day when only 11 players managed to break par.

"I'm very pleased with the way I played today," enthused Romero, who was almost as excited to have played alongside one of his heroes in Ben Crenshaw; the American opened with a 76.

"It was also great to see some of my old friends again, the ones I have known for a long time."

Although Romero is an old hand at tournament golf, having played the regular tour since 1984, he admitted to feeling the nerves on his debut.

"I felt a little nervous on the first tee, and for my second shot, but after a quick chat with my caddy I soon settled down to business and enjoyed it."

That Romero did, because after 12 holes he was four under and justifying the pre-tournament favourite tag attached to him. However, dropped shots at the 13th and 16th, with a birdie at 15, meant he had to be content with a share, instead of the outright lead.

Afterwards Romero, like the majority of players, praised the course highly but did say the greens were a little bumpy.

The highlight of Rhodes's 69 was a hole-in-one at the 189-yard par-three sixth.

It was the second of the day, as Australian Graham Marsh had earlier managed the same feat at the 170-yard 11th. Both men received a bottle of wine for every yard their respective par threes measured.

In the group ahead of Romero, home favourite Des Smyth was trying to find his form playing alongside the defending champion, Tom Watson, and Sam Torrance. Instead, the Drogheda native had to settle for a 74, one better than Watson, while Torrance battled back from a double-bogey at the first to shoot level par.

"My score should have been better but I wasn't full of confidence out there," said Smyth. "I made a bumpy start and really it has been like that for most of the year."

The start included two birdies and three bogeys in his opening five holes.

He also spoke of his disappointment at missing this week's Irish Open at his home club in Baltray.

"It's an unfortunate clash. I'd love to have had the opportunity to play down there but there was no question as to where I was going to play," concluded Smyth, referring to the Senior major.

First Round Scores

(British unless stated, Irish in bold)

69 - J Chillas, D Pooley (US), J Rhodes, E romero (Arg).

70 - C Mason, I Mosey.

71 - H Baiocchi (Rsa), B Fleisher (US), J A Jacobs (US), T Kite (US), B Longmuir.

72 - A Bean (US), G Encina (Chl), M Ferguson (Aus), J Grace (US), B Heuchan (CAn), M James, M McNulty, S Owen (NZ), N Sugai (Jpn), S Torrance.

73 - E Darcy, D Eger (US), P Leonard, J Morgan, P Oakley (US), N Ratcliffe (Aus), B Summerhays (US), J Thomsen (US), H Woodrome (US).

74 - H Carbonetti (Arg), D Durnian, B Gilder (US), J Harris (US), N Job, B Jones (Aus), P Martin (US), M Miller, D Smyth, DA Weibring (US).

75 - J Bland (Rsa), B Cameron, B Charles (NZ), Rodger Davis (Aus), S Ebihara (Jpn), D Good (Aus), M Hatalsky (US), B Lockie, C Maltman, M McCullough (US), R Peters, G Player (Rsa), J Spradlin (US), R Stewart (Can), T Watson (US).

76 - I Aoki (Jpn), J Bruner (US), G Cali (Ita), B Crenshaw (US), P Elson, B Evans, J Fought (US), J Hawkes (Rsa), M Hayes (US), T Horton, J Inman (US), J Irwin (Can), B Lendzion (US), G Marsh (Aus), J McTear, C Moody, a-Dermot W Morris, L Nielsen (US), D O'Sullivan, TJ Ozaki (Jpn), M Reid (US), I Richardson, a-R Smethurst, S Smith (US), D Taki (Jpn), G Wright (Aus).

77 - M Bembridge, D Cambridge (Jam), R Carrasco (US), D Douglass (US), L Farmer, M Foster, T Gale (Aus), M Johnson (US), K Jones, TR Jones (US), G Levenson (Rsa)J Mason (US), E Polland, P Reed (US), D Russell, G Tickell, R Vucinich (US), R Webster.

78 - L Carbonetti (Arg), B Larratt, B Lincoln Rsa), S Majerus (US), A Smit (Rsa), R Streck (US), G Townhill, M Velasco (Spa), S Wild.

79 - A Baburin (Swe), N Coles, B Ford (US), B Hardwick (Can), a-A Pierse, a-G Rees.

80 - T Britz (Rsa), S Corliss (US), C O'Connor, D Oakley (US), A Tapie (US), B Verway (Rsa).

81 - S Bonham, G Burroughs, P Cowley, P Dugeny (Fra), M Gray, M Gregson, G Tolley.

82 - V Garcia (Spa), F Gibson (US), N Wood.

83 - D Creamer, M Gallagher, J Johnston.

84 - I Stanley (Aus).

85 - J Combs (US), R Leisen (Can), M Pinero (Spa).

86 - B Joyce (US).

87 - T Price.

88 - P Barlow, S Stewart (US).