men's Bermuda Four Ball Championships at Port Royal yesterday, while visiting pair Ginette Spinucci and Darlene Werhnyak were crowned the women's winners.

Pitt and Ascento, champions for the past two years, started yesterday's third and final round with a one-stroke lead -- Friday's round was cancelled due to gale force winds -- after an even par 71 on Saturday.

And a 72, their highest of the tournament, still proved good enough to secure a third straight triumph as nearest rivals, Dion Mills and Dave Purcell, fell off the pace with a 75 and had to settle for second on retrogression.

Pitt and Ascento finished on 211 while Mills and Purcell were joined on 215 by visitors Bob Bowmaster and Sparky Whitener whose 67 was the best score of the day.

Joint first day leaders, Ian Page and David Hunter, faded and had to be satisfied with fourth overall on 218 after a second straight 75.

Ginette Spinucci, a Bermudian now living in Georgia, and Werhnyak emerged victorious in the 36-hole ladies championship by five strokes over Mary Bowmaster and Marsha Whitener.

Spinucci and Werhnyak combined weekend rounds of 74 and 76 for a 150 total while Bowmaster and Whitener finished on 155 from rounds of 78 and 77.

Ascento will join fellow Bermudians Michael Sims, Andrew Trott and Blake Marshall later this week for the long trip to Santiago, Chile, where the World Amateur Team Championships get underway next week.

The Bermuda quartet will get chance to play practice rounds at both La Dehesa GC and Los Leones GC, the two courses hosting the championship, before the 72-hole tournament begins on November 19.

BILL PITT -- third straight win with partner Henry Ascento.