yesterday after a spectacular third round net 59 at the par-71 Mid Ocean Club.

The men from Edison, New Jersey were in full song, matching the beauty of a sun-filled afternoon with equally stellar play at the sprawling lay-out in Tucker's Town.

Led by club professional Jim Miller, the team which includes amateur members Dave Foley, Ray Romano and Joe Nita, moved to an overall total of 175 and have only to conquer Castle Harbour during today's final round to have their names etched as champions.

Biggest losers on the day were Huntington Crescent of New York, who entered in a two-way tie for second with defending champions Long Cove, but tumbled mightily after a disastrous outing at Mid Ocean where they could only muster a net 65 that put them eight strokes back on 183.

Cove squandered a fine opportunity to gain ground, incurring some difficulty at Belmont where they carded a disappointing 60 that left them three shots adrift in fourth with Mid Ocean as their final outing.

Currently standing in second place are Trenton Country Club of New Jersey and Florida's Plantation Country Club, both locked at 177.

Trenton registered a 58, while Plantation carded the day's best score, a 55, both at Belmont.

Sitting fifth and still with a shot at the title are Schuyler Meadows Club, four shots off the pace following a 58 at Belmont.

The best local team are Belmont -- Cornell Bean, Cisco Gordyk, William DeSilva and Bruce Fenton -- as they dropped from eighth to 14th with a surprisingly high 62 at their home venue, giving them an overall 184.

Port Royal, tied with Belmont entering the day, fell even harder after a 69 at Mid Ocean, dropping to 191.

Improving were Riddell's Bay who went from 32nd to 28th on the tails of a 62 at Castle Harbour that gave them a three-day total of 188.