In a match worthy of the business end of the week, Conor McKenna knew he would have his work cut out to negotiate a tricky first hurdle in his title defence when he was drawn against his Royal Guernsey Juniors teammate, but even he probably did not expect to be 3 down with five holes to play with Mills playing virtually nerveless golf.
But as the crowd grew with intrigue spreading across the L’Ancresse links as word went around that the champion was trailing, so the pressure grew on 15-year-old Mills.
McKenna got a hole back at the long 14th then his opponent flew the green at the 15th and ended up on the path between the 16th tee and fairway, leading to a concession when Mills failed to hack out of thick rough having taken free relief with the second seed just 15ft away in two.
The champion made full use of the momentum he had gathered on the next hole, taking driver to get within 25 yards of the green in a favourable position out on the right whereas Mills opted for an iron off the tee for safety but turned it over to finish in ferns on the left.
A penalty drop followed and he was unable to save his par while McKenna was odds-on to make a three anyway and suddenly they were all-square with two to play.
Both hit decent tee shots up the hill at 17, but Mills was now showing a few signs of tension and his second came up short of the green before his chip-and-run scurried 10ft past the hole.
McKenna made a regulation par having found the heart of the green, but Mills responded by holing a clutch putt for a four to remain level.
The champion knocked his tee shot at the last to around 18ft and in reply the 15-year-old finished on the left edge, 30ft away.
Then came the decisive twist in the match as Mills rattled in his lengthy birdie putt at speed and McKenna was unable to follow him in, meaning his title defence was over.
Mills will now face Island men’s team captain Dave Jeffery, who had to go down the 19th hole against Andy Chamberlain before booking his spot in the second round.
The other match to go the distance on the night saw former champion Jeremy Nicolle finish with a flourish – he was three under par for his last six holes including chipping in for eagle at the 14th – to edge out Arthur Evans.
He now meets senior George Melhuish, who played really well to overcome CJ Elmy.
There will be no father-versus-son second-round clash as Mick Marley was convincingly beaten by Rory McKenna, but Lewis Marley did progress as he produced some excellent iron play to win against Neil Tanguy.
In the first match out, Danny Blondel was a comfortable winner against Will Davidson and he will now face Wayne Harwood, who saw off Wasif Anees in 16 holes.
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