Calgary's Stephen Ames promised to be a gracious host before launching his opening drive at the Telus World Skins Game.
Jhonattan Vegas made himself right at home, grabbing five skins and $85,000 over Monday's front nine at Glen Arbour Golf Course.
The 27-year-old defending champion from Venezuela rolled to the first-day lead, followed by Ames, England's Paul Casey and 2009 U.S. Open winner Lucas Glover with one skin each for $15,000.
The ninth hole carried over for when play resumes today.
"[Ames] said he'd let us win because he's such a nice guy as the Canadian," Vegas said from the course, although he offered more specific analysis afterward. "It was a great day ... I was lucky enough to make a few more [shots] than they did. I usually make a lot of birdies - and a lot of bogeys as well - so I'm pretty good at this kind of game."
Glover's dry South Carolina accent offered a different perspective on Vegas's success.
"I make him very comfortable [at these events]," Glover said.
The only player to get blanked on the opening day was Sweden's Carl Pettersson, who made his Skins debut against the four who competed at last year's event.
"It's tough to be the rookie," Pettersson lamented on his first experience. "Hopefully, I don't get shut out and pick a couple skins up tomorrow."
The players fed off the large and enthusiastic gallery on a postcard-perfect summer day in Halifax. While the event was a little more subdued without the boisterous comedic stylings of past entries like John Daly, the five amiable pros carried on just fine.
"Jonathan and I lived just across the water from one another growing up," joked Ames, who was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
The first six holes were all worth $15,000, followed by $20,000 for the next three. The stakes increase to $25,000 for the final six holes of today's back nine.
