CORRECTION Top local golfer Judithanne Astwood, who recently qualified as an assistant professional, has made it clear she has no ambitions to play on the LPGA Tour, contrary to a report which appeared in yesterday's Royal Gazette . Astwood says she will concentrate on teaching while occasionally playing in mini-tour tournaments overseas.

Bermuda's top two female golfers are set to make their professional debuts in the same local tournament next month.

Veteran Judithanne Astwood, who became an assistant professional on January 1, and Kim Marshall, who recently finished her studies at Wake Forest University and is still based in Pinehurst, North Carolina, have confirmed they will be in the field for the Easter Lily tournament, beginning March 4 at Belmont.

The pair were team-mates in the World Amateur Championships last November in the Philippines. Astwood knew then that would be her seventh and final appearance at a major amateur event.

"We ended the World Amateurs together and will start our pro careers together,'' said Astwood this week. "It excites me because we have a lot of respect for each other.'' Astwood said she hoped to qualify for the LPGA Tour, but would aim to compete in other tournaments overseas.

Marshall also has her sights set on the LPGA Tour and will use the Futures Tour and Tour School to achieve that end. She explained that while the Futures Tour was not affiliated with the LPGA it could be used as a stepping stone.

"There are 21 tournaments and most range from the east to central US and they have tournaments almost every week,'' said Marshall. "You can play in as many as you like, going from tournament to tournament gaining experience.

"The big test starts on April 2 with the Futures Tour and that's kind of a stepping stone for the LPGA and the qualifying school for the LPGA which is at the end of August.'' Qualifying school consists of two stages, one on the East Coast and the other on the West.

"I'll go to the first stage in the East Coast which is in the end of August.

They have a cut after two rounds and if you make the cut you go into the third round. If you make the cut after the third round you play the fourth round and have to make the low 30 from over a 100 starters.

"If you don't make the cut in the first stage in the east you have a second chance at first stage in the west and if you miss out there then you are done for the year.'' Marshall explained that qualifying in the west often saw players who had been on the Tour before and were trying to re-qualify. "You have to make the first stage once and wherever you make it you advance to the second stage. Late October is the final stage.'' The talented youngster admitted competition would be fierce, but said she was motivated by the challenge. The money, she conceded, was not as impressive as that on the men's tour.

"I wouldn't say the money is that great on the Futures Tour but if you get your card and go past Tour school and win a tournament on the LPGA Tour then you're pretty set -- not just in purse money but endorsements, sponsors and stuff like that.

"The pressure is a lot different when you are playing for money. I would just like to be successful. If I was in it for the money, I wouldn't play in the Futures Tour.

"The leading money winner only made $25,000 last year and after expenses she probably just made a small profit whereas everyone else was in the hole after they paid all their expenses.'' Another graduate of Wake Forest, Stephanie Neill, who was two years ahead of Marshall, has also been trying to qualify for the LPGA Tour.

"She's been to Tour School twice and missed qualifying (for the LPGA) both times,'' said Marshall. "She's played on the Futures Tour and also in Australia on the Pro Tour. She had an amazing college career.'' The 22-year-old Marshall, who graduated with a BA in Sociology from Wake Forest in December, has been in Pinehurst the last couple of months where she is working closely with coach Harvey Ward.

"Things are going well with Mr. Ward, I really like him,'' she said of the coach who previously worked with PGA player Payne Stewart.

"We're just basically working on some minor swing changes, nothing major at all which is good. We're just getting things grooved and more consistent.

"He's got a pretty big name around here in Pinehurst. He's an older man, he's been around and has the experience and knowledge.'' Marshall remembers well the summers when her father, Eddie, used to take her away to junior tournaments, spending weeks away at a time. Those trips enabled her to earn a scholarship at Wake Forest.

"It was my dad who introduced me to golf. The competition and the experience then has all paid off,'' she added. "I think I still have a lot of work to do. Golf is a game you can never master and there is always something you can work on.

"I would say that's why the same person doesn't go out and win every single tournament, because it's possible for anyone to have a bad day.'' SCHOOLS SOCCER PAT SOC RG P15 22.2.1997 Northlands' intermediate team twice came from behind to beat Saltus 3-2 in the schools cup final on Thursday night at National Stadium.

Saltus took the lead midway through the first half when Keith Caines opened the scoring. It stayed that way until a minute into the second half when Northlands equalised through Jemeiko Jennings.

Caines restored the Saltus lead with another well-taken goal, but Northlands equalised a second time, this time from the penalty spot when Jared Pension was brought down while rounding the Saltus 'keeper. Jennings made no mistake from the spot for his second goal.

With five minutes remaining Northlands were awarded a free kick near the left touchline. The ball was floated across to the far post and right back Zane Hendrickson was there to toe poke the ball into the net.

Northlands held on to win 3-2 in a match that could have gone either way.

Outstanding for their respective teams were Caines of Saltus and Northlands' Jennings.

TABLE TENNIS PP Defending champions Old Colony Club, by virtue of their 7-4 victory over BPSA, have virtually assured themselves a second successive league championship.

OCC extended their record to 15-0 with four games to play while BPSA, with a 14-2 record, have three games left. Other results on Tuesday night saw Eastern Stars defeat Wolves I 7-4, Prison Officers beat Wolves II 11-0, BTC III down BTC II 8-3 and Social Club win 11-0 by default over BTC I who have withdrawn from the league.

On Tuesday the Challenge Cup semi-finals see Prison Officers at home to OCC and defending champions Eastern Stars hosting BPSA.

Dexter Smith, on standby with the national cricket squad for the trip to Malaysia, has been included in the BTTA team for the World Championships in Manchester, England from April 24 to May 6. The squad will leave on April 22 but Smith will only make that trip if he does not travel with the cricket team.

The squad is: Mansfield Smith (manager), Nick Frost, Dexter Smith, Dave Waltham, Rawle Frederick, Myron Piper, Mike Lindo, Alden Ray. On standby are Curtis Hodgson and Barry Rahman.

DARTS DRT Charles Roberts proved just why he is considered among Bermuda's best dart players as he seized the `triple crown' during the Heineken Dart tournament.

Roberts won the Mixed Trebles, Open Doubles and Singles, teaming with Jimmy Pratt and Jean Clark to seize the trebles, then linking with Gordon McQueen for the doubles and completing his successful run in downing Pratt for the singles title.

Meanwhile, a new event involving players not registered with the Bermuda Darts Association attracted 32 entrants and saw W.Harvey and S.Maughan take doubles honours and V.Daniels and J.Botelho the Open Cricket doubles. T.Custudio emerged as novice singles champion and L.Simons the ladies singles titlist.