Tim Conley didn't save his best for last. He didn't have to.

A one-under-par 69 -- by most players' standards impressive, by Conley's only mediocre -- was more than enough to carry the affable Atlantan to his fourth Belmont Invitational title in six years, adding to victories in 1991, 1993 and 1995.

Bermuda's own Dwayne Pearman, who started yesterday six shots back, never managed to mount a serious challenge. Nor Fran Marello, the 1994 winner, despite pulling back three strokes on the outward nine.

Following earlier rounds of 66, 66, and 68, Conley's final effort was his highest of the tournament but still better than anybody else in the field could muster on a day when the wind was stronger and more troublesome than it had been all week.

His 72-hole total of 269 left him nine clear of Pearman (278) who posted 72 for second place and 11 ahead of Marello (280) who finished with a one-over 71.

Marello looked the most impressive of the leading trio as he went out in one-under 33 yesterday with birdies at one and six compared to Conley and Pearman's identical scores of two-over 36.

But the back nine, for most of the field a much tougher proposition, belonged entirely to the defending champion as he birdied 10, 13, 17 and 18 to come back in three-under 33.

Pearman also birdied 10 and 13 but successive bogeys on 15, 16 and 17 effectively ended any hopes he may have harboured of producing a dramatic late charge.

A winner at the Nike Tour stop in St. Louis this year and the 1996 Kansas State Open, Conley was delighted with his fourth Belmont crown, but confessed the final round hadn't been an easy one.

"I'd rather have been way ahead,'' he said. "Six shots in front, you've still got to play like you're six behind. If Fran or Dwayne had made a couple of putts, the difference could have been two or three, then all it would have taken was one bad swing, and I could have found myself tied.

"But none of us played really well. I guess I was waiting for the fellas around me to make some birdies, and they weren't playing that well and neither was I. The greens were a little rough this afternoon and that made it tough.

"Also it was so doggone slow today. It was pathetic. You just had to pace yourself and regroup for every shot.'' Conley said he'd like to return to shoot for a fifth crown.

"I love the place. The camaraderie is the biggest part of this tournament.

There was a good crowd here today. I just wish we'd all played a little better and given them something to cheer about.'' For his part, Pearman was happy with the runners-up spot.

"Considering the way I putted, I'll take second and run,'' smiled the Ocean View pro.

"Tim's a top player and I knew I'd have to make a lot of putts to catch him.

But I was three over after five and virtually out of it.

"All week my putting and chipping has been poor. Usually three and four feet, that's my range. I don't know what happened, it just left me.

"I went away last week, didn't take any clubs with me, and when I came back my confidence just wasn't there.'' Taking fourth place overall was regular return visitor Tom Sullivan who carded 73 yesterday for a four-day total of 283, two behind Marello. And another five shots back was Paul Parajeckas on 288.

Host course pro Barry DeCouto, three under after four holes yesterday, eventually had to settle for a 73 and a share of sixth place with Tom Jaeger and Eardley Jones on 290.

Jones, the former Southampton Princess pro who recently took up a new position as teaching professional at the Bermuda Golf Academy in Southampton, won the senior professional division, shooting 73 yesterday to beat out perennial senior winner Joe Carr (296) by six shots.

Belmont member Nick Mansell, meanwhile, retained his amateur title with a final day 74 for a 72-hole total of 295, four in front of Douglas (Blip) Morris (299). Zane DeSilva (301) finished third among the amateurs.