Bermuda will be among 18 countries vying for Nations Cup honours, starting today in Mexico.

Tour pro Michael Sims and Tucker?s Point club professional Andrew Trott will represent the Island in the four-day Latin American qualifier for the World Cup at El Tigre Golf Club in Nuevo Vallarta.

The pair, who arrived at the weekend and have been practising throughout this week, must place among the top three on the par-71 course if Bermuda are to advance to the World Cup, to be played in Seville, Spain, in November. The local pair are accompanied by Mid Ocean Club pro Chris Garland as manager.

Golfers will play four-ball on the first and third days and alternate-shot foursomes on the second and final days.

?Foursomes is a very tough format and although most of us expect to shoot sub-par in any singles round of golf, I think two foursomes rounds of even par on this golf course will be a good score,? noted Venezuela?s Miguel Martinez, the current Venezuelan Open champion who is partnered by former European Challenge Tour player Carlos Larrain.

Bermuda finished seventh out of 14 countries in last year?s Nations Cup at the same venue, nine shots adrift of a World Cup berth.

On that occasion the Island were represented by Sims and Dwayne Pearman and they had the satisfaction of sharing the low score for the fourth and final round with hosts Mexico and Costa Rica. Bermuda finished at four-under 280 overall for the competition.

Six teams from the two qualifiers ? the Latin American one and another played concurrently in Asia ? will join 18 countries already pre-qualified on world-ranking points to contest the $4 million dollar World Cup purse in Seville.