Former top junior golfer Christian de Meillac shot a one over par 73 to lead the 2008 Coca Cola St Andrew's Club Championships by two strokes over Robert Llanos on the first day of the two-day competition at the St Andrew's Golf Course in Moka yesterday.

De Meillac played very well under difficult conditions as heavy rain suspended play for nearly an hour shortly after lunch with the last groups finishing in near darkness.

Jashmeed Ali is third (77) followed by Patrick Boocok (78), while former champion Deryck Gonsalves (79) is involved in a four-way tie for fifth with youngster Talin Rajendranath, John Holley and Richard Smith.

Leading the Ladies is Amoy Chang Fong who shot 83 and is one stroke ahead of Natalya Rahamatula.

John Hale's 82 gave him a two- stroke lead over Anthony Romain in the second flight, while in the third flight there is a tie for the lead between Gerard Vieira and Mark Knowles who both had 88. In the fourth flight Lawrence Drake, 99, holds a slim one stroke lead over Eric Hopkins.

The tournament, which fields 112 golfers in the club's most prestigious tournament over 36 holes concludes today.

The first tee off is at 7.50 a.m.