MATTEA Issa, Zandre Roye, and Aman Dhiman were the early leaders at the end of the first round of the National Senior Golf Trials being held at Half Moon Golf Course in St James. The three-day trials began on Friday.

A small but very experienced field, bolstered with the inclusion of some of the top professional golfers, were battling the heat and wind on the expansive course.

Junior golfer Mattea Issa led many-time national representative Jodi Munn-Barrow by two strokes after posting seven over par 79 to take the lead on the Ladies’ side. Munn-Barrow shot nine over par 79.

Roye and Dhiman posted similar scores of four over par 76 to be tied for first place at the end of the round.

Oshae Haye was in third place on 78 while the newly crowned national golf champion Ryan Lue, who was one stroke back on 79, was tied for fourth place with Rocco Lopez and Trey Williams who also carded 79 in the round.

The top three local pros on the course were Sebert Walker Jr 76, Orville Christie 77, and Jonathan Newnham 78.

With two more rounds to go, the category winners are still up for grabs.