Cup's American Zone Group III and IV championships.

Four more Group III ties took place yesterday at the Southampton Princess hardcourts, including the Dominican Republic's 2-1 victory over Guatemala and Jamaica's 3-0 win over Bolivia.

Now the host country -- and Group IV -- swing into action today with a 1 p.m.

tie against Costa Rica. And expected to lead off for Bermuda in the opening singles match is Ricky Mallory, who was last night picked ahead of the Island's top-ranked player, Michael Way.

Donald Evans will likely get the call for the number one singles clash, with Way teaming up with either Mallory, Evans or James Collieson for doubles.

Bermuda captain Steve Bean has the option of waiting until a half-hour before the team takes the court to alter his lineup. And he doesn't have to make his mind up on the doubles pair until just before the match.

Bean could not be reached last night but said earlier this week that he faced an agonising decision over who to play and who to leave out. "Anyone of them can play singles and we're not going to lose much,'' he said.

"They're team players and they know that if someone has an outstanding day, they can expect that that person will play doubles, too.'' Bean, however, said he would attempt to use all four players during the tournament. Bermuda play the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States on Saturday. Tomorrow, OECS take on Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, yesterday's results indicated just how evenly the teams are in Group III -- at least in the B pool. Jamaica's win came over a team that a day earlier defeated the Dominican Republic, who yesterday defeated a Guatemalan team who opened the tournament with a win over Jamaica. You get the idea.

The results left all four B Group teams with one point, but Jamaica are on top based on them winning more matches, sets and games than the others.

Things aren't nearly so complicated in the A Group, where Panama and Antigua/Barbuda are both 2-0 after wins over Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, respectively, yesterday. Each has captured five matches and 11 sets but Panama have won 81 games to Antigua/Barbuda's 78.

They play each other today.

Complete results, Page 26