There were no such problems for the 65th edition of one of the Island's most popular tournaments with 72 players, including defending champion Joel Hirsch, taking part at Mid Ocean Golf Club.

Hirsch was one of those determined not to miss the tournament last year, and it paid off as he went on to defeat defending champion Robert Vallis four and three in the 36-hole final.

The 52-year-old Chicago resident who does not need to play in today's qualifying round will use it as a practice round, as other defending champions have done in the past, as he chases his fourth title.

"My game is about the same as last year,'' said Hirsch. "This is my first tournament of the year and I always look forward to playing in Bermuda. Mid Ocean is one of my favourite spots in the world and it's always a treat coming back to Bermuda.'' Hirsch knows he will have a tough time defending his title. "There are a lot of good players in the tournament, so I just have to go out there and tend to the business and hopefully come up roses on Saturday.'' Hirsch's playing partner today will be Bermudian Scott Mayne, who, depending on the draw and form, could very well be his opponent in Saturday's final.

Both are scratch handicappers and will be amongst the favourites, who also include 1991 winner Doug Clark, a two-handicapper, scratch Jack Stahl, Rick Cunha, who plays off a one-handicap as does Ricky Cox of Bermuda, and visitors Gunnar Bennett of Indian Creek CC, Miami, and Cecil Worsley III of North Carolina.

Hirsch tries not to pay too much attention to the quality of the opposition.

"In golf you can't play defensive, unlike football and soccer,'' he said.

"I'm really more focussed on how I'm playing.'' Clark was one of the casualties last year as he fell victim to the East Coast blizzard after having trouble getting a flight from Concorde, North Carolina.

Other leading overseas contenders include Cunha of Massachusetts, Michael Rose of Pennsylvania and scratch player Joe Holden, a friend of Mayne's who was a regular in this event until the Bermudian's brief hiatus in the professional division.

Amongst the other leading locals are two-handicappers Dave Purcell and new BPGA president Barry DeCouto, Arthur Jones (four handicap) and Noel Van Putten.

Vallis, the 1992 champion, is missing because he is in Australia with Henry Ascento competing in the Centenary Amateur Championships of Australia, which begin tomorrow in Sydney with two rounds of qualifying prior to match play.

The Bermudians placed 11th out of 14 teams in the Australian Golf Union's team tournament, which was held as part of their centenary celebrations. The tournament was won by the England team after three days of competition last weekend.

JOEL HIRSCH.