LEWISTON — None of the 250 or so rounds Mike Boss estimated he had golfed at Niagara Falls Country Club over the past five years felt so nerve-racking. This was the Porter Cup, and the pressure immediately overwhelmed the 18-year-old. The only Lewiston resident in the tournament shook as he played the first two holes.

Being the son of John Boss, the club’s head golf professional, has its privileges and its drawbacks.

Not surprisingly, Mike Boss started poorly Wednesday, hooking his first shot into the trees.

“Bogey, par, par, bogey,” Boss said. “I was kind of like, ‘Whoa, I got to step it up,’ and then I made a couple puts and it was gone.”

Boss birdied on the sixth hole, and then got going, birdying again on No. 11 and No. 14. He finished even at 70 (36-34), tied for 31st, a nice round for one of the tournament’s youngest participants.

“It was awesome,” a smiling Boss said. “I was playing with the best amateurs in the world. I played alright so I’m happy with myself.”

As his son played possibly the most memorable round of his life, John Boss attended to his normal duties around the club, hoping some normalcy would help his son.

“This is an international level, so I really didn’t know what to expect,” John Boss said. “He played great. I always knew he could play at this level, for sure. Having him do it is different.”

Mike Boss thinks his course familiarity helps him, something his father doesn’t believe “because I think there’s a lot more added pressure on him being that he’s from here.”

“Maybe expectations can be higher being that he’s a local kid,” John Boss said. “I always found it tough to play in local events. I always wanted to go somewhere (else). It’s a lot easier.”

Before tournament director Steve Denn extended an invitation two weeks ago, he spoke with John Boss to see if the mental side of Mike’s game was ready for the competition.

Wednesday’s performance left no second-guessing. Mike Boss even thinks he has some better rounds in him.

“I think so,” Boss said. “I can make a couple more putts, maybe a couple more greens.”

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Even if you didn’t have a pairings sheet or know any golfers’ names, the international flavor Wednesday at the Porter Cup was evident.

One threesome — Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo, Bolivia’s Sebastian Maclean and Venezuela’s Julio Vegas — represented three of what Denn believes is a tournament-record 12 countries.

The three spoke Spanish as they walked the course, something Vegas, a University of Texas junior, had never experienced before in the United States.

“It was fun, it was a little different,” said Vegas, whose brother, Jhonattan, a PGA Tour pro, played in the 2008 Porter Cap.

Jhonattan Vegas spoke glowingly about the tournament to his brother.

“He said it was a great field, a great tournament,” said Julio Vegas, who’s tied for 14th at 2-under. “It was so nice here, and I was going to have a good time here.”

In addition to the United States and the threesome’s countries, Australia, Canada, Columbia, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Taiwan are represented.

“I don’t recall having as diverse a field as this year,” Denn said.

Denn said he follows events all over the world. It’s an eight-month process to invite the foreign players.

“It’s flattering that people come so far to play,” Denn said.

The winter climate in the Southern Hemisphere has drawn some players, Denn said. Positive words help, too.

“We got a lot of things going for us, just the whole hospitality thing they enjoy at the club, and Western New York, I think, is a major draw for us,” Denn said.

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Five golfers — Wesley Bryan, Denny McCarthy, Brinson Paolini, Jonthan Randolph and Harold Varner — played 36 holes in 90-degree heat Tuesday at a U.S. Amateur qualifier in Baltimore, yet made it to Lewiston for their tee times. A torrential downpour Monday forced the close call. ... The tournament had no last-minute withdrawals for the first time Denn can remember. ... Australian Bryden Macpherson recently won the British Amateur, which secured a spot in next year’s Masters.