through yesterday at lush Mid Ocean Club.

After a taxing semi-final that saw the good doctor carried to the 19th hole by Austin Eaton III, Vallis was able to regroup over lunch and return to reclaim his fourth Mid Ocean Invitational title.

New Yorker David Braham gave the Bermudian all he could handle, as the two fought tooth and nail while being constantly battered by strong winds and occasional showers.

When the dust settled it was Vallis clinging to the championship prize, two up, and knowing that he had indeed been in battle.

"I'm obviously pleased. It was a very good match this morning and this afternoon was equally good, although it was a bit different because of the weather,'' said Vallis as he rushed to get ready for the prize presentation.

"I played pretty steadily the whole week (but) this morning was the best I'd played all week and to win any number of times is an achievement.'' Vallis had previously won three in a row, stretching from 1989 to 1991, only to be denied a fourth straight title, which would have been a record.'' "No one has won four times in a row, so I'll have to try and see what I can do.'' Blake Marshall entered the day seeking a repeat performance of his 1995 crown, but found Braham a pill too big to swallow in their semi-final.

The senior championship saw an all to familiar tale, with Dick Stimets of Massachusetts completing his forceful run through the tournament with a decisive four and two win over fellow New Yorker Edward Gaffey.

Stimets was simply untouchable all week. Gaffey tried hard, but from the beginning it appeared destiny for Stimets, whose closest matches were three and two wins over Jack Wahl in the quarter-finals and Pat O'Malley in the semis.

THE SCORES Junior Division Championship Flight Semi-finals D.Braham d B.Marshall; R.Vallis d A.Eaton 19th Finals R.Vallis d D.Braham 2-up Championship Consolation Lauchlan d H.Barit 6 and 5 First Flight T.West d T.Parks 2 and 1 Consolation P.Devine d K.Petty 6 and 5 Second Flight B.Lang d B.Derba 2 and 1 Consolation J.Flanagan d M.deLahunty 4 and 3 Senior Division Championship Flight Finals D.Stimets d E.Gaffey 4 and 2 Consolation T.Stearns d T.Kenerson 2 and 1 First flight R.Kilgore d B.Tinker 1-up Consolation R.McPhee d D.Hewitt 1-up Second Flight C.Breanan d K.Fulton 1-up Consolation N.Thomas d T.Beatty 19th Third Flight D.Burnap d I.Brown 5 and 3 Consolation R.English d T.Blalock 2-up Photos by Tony Cordeiro FOURTH AND GOAL -- Robert Vallis (left) captured his fourth Mid Ocean Invitational tournament yesterday, defeating David Braham. Braham defeated 1995 champ Blake Marshall in the semi-finals.