with a formidable cast of 22 professionals containing three overseas entrants vying for a share of the $3,500 total purse, including $1,000 to the overall winner.

Amateurs take to the course on Saturday and Sunday with a field of 74, including 60 competing over 36 holes in the open division along with 14 seniors.

Heading the pro list -- the professional tournament covers 56 holes -- is St.

George's Club professional Kim Swan, fresh off a solid performance at the International Challenge in New England where he was the lone bright spot as a band of Bermudians were soundly beaten by their New England counterparts.

Also expected to mount a challenge are Dwayne Pearman, Cornell Bean as well as Keith Smith, who always seems to be in the thick of things. Janice Simons adds a female touch to this male-dominated field.

Among the amateurs, Dave Purcell, John Richardson, Leroy Burch, Cal Hendrickson and Henry Ascento are all in with a shot at the title, which carries a yellow jacket and travel voucher for the winner.

"We anticipate seeing some excellent golf over the course of the weekend,'' said tournament committee chairman Ed Ball yesterday. "There are players from every club in the Island competing and it should be a close competition.'' Bean downplayed his role as one of the favourites, stating that he had not been particularly active in recent weeks but would be using this tournament to help get back into the swing of things.

"My game is just so-so right now,'' said Bean. "I haven't been practising too much lately, so I'll just go out and do the best I can and see what happens.'' "I'm not expecting much except that I'll be competitive.'' The Belmont professional tipped Smith as one to look out for, saying that he plays the Ocean View course in particular quite well.

However, Pearman, the 29-year-old assistant pro at Port Royal cannot be overlooked especially after having gained valuable experience competing overseas this year in a number of quality tournaments.

Like Bean, Pearman said that his game at present is not at the desired level but he viewed himself as having just a good chance as anyone of wresting the championship.

"It's a little up and down at the moment. It's not as steady as I would like it to have been, but it's all right.

"I'm just going to take it one day at a time and see what happens at the end.'' Ball said that he and Trevor Nicholls, manager of sponsors J.E. Lightbourne, expect to make this an annual event on the local golfing calendar.

In addition to the aforementioned prizes there is also a trip to Jamaica on the table for anyone that manages a hole-in-one. Valued at $6,000, the package includes the opportunity to witness several of the world's premier golfers -- Nick Faldo, Fred Couples, Ray Floyd are some of those expected -- competing in the Johnnie Walker Black Label tournament in Jamaica.

KIM SWAN -- In good form the past few months.