Consistency finally paid off for Henry Ascento when he won his first major golf tournament, the Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play yesterday.

And Kim Marshall made it three in a row in the ladies' competition although she was desperately disappointed with her final round.

Ascento finished the tournament, at the Port Royal Golf Club, 12 strokes ahead of his closest rivals Arthur Jones and Clyde Burgess.

He led from the first day and had an eight-stroke advantage going into yesterday's final round. But he was never complacent, dropping few shots until the closing stages.

After posting scores of 73, 71 and 75 over the weekend he finished with a 74 yesterday to weap up a convincing victory.

Ascento said: "I think I did real well until the 15th today when my first double of the whole tournament came.

"It is my first tournament win. I just kept playing steadily and I did not get over-confident coming into the final day. I am very happy to have won.'' Organiser Tom Smith said: "Henry has probably been the most consistent golfer in Bermuda over the last couple of years but he has never won a trophy up to now. It looks like this is his year.'' Last year's winner and one of the favourites for this year's event Duncan Zelkin finishedjoint sixth, 14 strokes behind the winner, and was ruing a number of missed putts. The 1993 runner-up Tim Carr was joint fourth.

Zelkin said: "I missed one or two putts each round and that is where you lose games.

"Henry plays up here all the time so I would expect him to do well. It is almost his home course.'' Ascento finished in style after undercutting his tee shot. He played a great stroke to the centre of the fairway, before finding the green and sinking a far from easy putt -- although the pressure was off by then.

He was quickly congratulated by Burgess who had just missed a long putt which would have given him second place on his own.

The ladies tournament was much closer with Kim Marshall and Madeline Joell coming into the final day on level-pegging at 154.

Making a rare appearance in Bermuda, because of her obligations to the US collegiate circuit with Wake Forest, Marshall was happy to win the tournament for a third time but annoyed with her final round.

The 19-year-old finished with 233, three strokes ahead of Joell. She finished with a final round of 79, and said: "I am happy to have won but I wish I could have played better. I did not make many putts.'' Joell also complained about her putting. She said: "I did not hit the ball that well and if I had got a few more putts it would have been different.'' Judithanne Outerbridge, on 242, took third place, with Pat Morgan fourth almost holing an enormous putt from the front of the 18th green.

US competition in the shape of Starr Campbell, Ann Cerniglia, Barbara Barton and Julie Knight never really materialised with Cerniglia closest in ninth place.

The men's low net winner was Adrian Arnold with 283. He finished sixth in the gross standings. Cindy Semos won the ladies low net with a 233, and finished seventh overall.

Yesterday's final day prizes went to Keith Beattie with a 73 and Donnette Caisey with a 74.

HENRY ASCENTO -- Had things all his own way.

FIRST LADIES -- Kim Marshall (right) with runner-up Madeline Joell.