OAKLAND – It’s been 11 years, but Lori Frost is back to where she feels comfortable – in the lead group of the Maine Women’s Amateur Championship.

Frost fired an even-par 73 at Waterville Country Club on Monday to take the first-round lead of the three-day tournament.

“Today was nice,” said Frost after finishing with a bogey on the final hole. “I’m not sure if this is going to be fun, yet. The jury is still out on that because I still have two rounds to play.”

It was expert play around the greens that helped Frost hang on to her even par round, which included pars on four of the final five holes she played.

“My front nine was solid,” Frost said. “On the back I started off well with a birdie thanks to my short game. I hit a bad tee ball on 12, and again on 13, but I was able to chip and putt well, and that was the difference. Overall I am pleased with my round.”

Frost played in the first group of the day with defending champion Abby Spector, playing in her first major tournament since being hospitalized for months following heart surgery. Spector started slowly, but by the end of the round started to show flashes of her past.

“It was weird from shot to shot. I didn’t know if the old Abby or the new Abby was going to show up,” Spector said after carding an 84 in Monday’s first round. “On some of the approach shots early I flew the green and I was like, Well, I guess that is the old Abby showing up today.'”

Spector struggled to a 7-over-par 44 on the front before righting the ship on the back nine with a 40. On the back, Spector parred the final five holes and made a slippery 12-footer on the 18th to preserve that streak.

“I really wanted that putt to drop,” Spector said with a laugh. “I really wanted that putt to drop.”

Spector admitted being “more nervous than I can ever remember” before teeing off on Monday, but was glad to be back and playing in the tournament. As far as any discomfort from her injuries, Spector said she felt fine – for now.

“In the past, the pain has come after I get home or the next morning. I’ll just have to wait and see. For now, I feel fine, maybe a little tired.”

Also in the first group of the day was Pennie Cummings of Springbrook, who shot a 76, including a par-36 on the back nine.

“I didn’t hit the fairways on the front nine,” Cummings said. “I got a couple of putts, or that would have been even worse. On the back nine I had putts for birdies on four of the last five holes and couldn’t make them.”

Tiffany Shoppe of Northeast Harbor had the second-lowest round of the day with a 75, followed by Cummings and Emily Allen of Turner, who overcame bogeys on four of her last five holes to shoot a 78. Allen will play in the second-to-last group of the day on Tuesday with Kathi O’Grady and Suzanne Roberts, who each shot 80.

Top local golfers included Leslie Guenther of Norway Country Club with an 81, Barbara Olson of Norway Country Club with an 87, Kristin Kannegieser of Martindale with a 90, Rebecca Dyer of Springbrook with a 94, Nancy Pratt of Wilson Lake with a 96, Norma Michaud of Springbrook with a 102 and Lee Barth of Norway with a 104.

Golfers will tee of on both the first and 10th hole again on Tuesday in reverse scoring order starting at 7:30 a.m.