qualifying in the World One-Armed Golf Championship being held at the Ballater Golf Course in Ballater, Scotland.

Talbot, who also won the title in 1988, shot a 74 on the day to lead Frenchman, Oliver by two strokes heading into the second round of qualifying today.

"I'm playing very good, especially my short game,'' said Talbot in a television interview last night. "Hopefully I can keep this up for the rest of the week''.

Talbot said that the competition was keen and it was only due to an even-par back nine that enabled him to create some distance between him and the rest of the field.

After Oliver there are two players locked on 78 followed by a pair at 79.

Bermudian Anthony Mocklow's bid to qualify for the US Open Championship fell at the final hurdle yesterday as he finished seven strokes out of contention.

Mocklow had a bad start at the Woodmount Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, opening with a seven-over-par 78 in the morning.

His afternoon round was considerably better at 73, but not enough to elevate him into the category of Fred Couples and Nick Faldo and other big-name players who will contest the championship at Pebble Beach Golf Club from June 18-21.

The BGA Men, returning to the `A' Division after a season in the lower `B' Division, showed that they will be a force to be reckoned with, registering an opening-round 302 at Belmont to take the early lead in the Bermuda Golf Association's Amstel League.

In a real team effort Arthur Jones and David Hunter shot 75s while Trevor Gilchrist and Denton Outerbridge both had 76s to give their side a four-stroke advantage over Port Royal II. Royal came in with 306 on the day, good for eight points and second place ahead of Ocean View I and Port Royal I, who tied for third with 308.

Individual honours went to Royal II's last-minute substitute Tony Readwin as he blazed around the course for a three-over-par 73.

Shining brightly at St. George's in the `B' Division were the youngsters of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association. Chris Garland led the way with a fine two-over-par 72, good for overall honours as they accrued 206 strokes, seven in front of Castle Harbour, who were bolstered by Junior DeSilva's total of 69.

Ocean View II stand third after shooting 218.

Over 85 entries have been received for the Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championships at Port Royal, although neither of last year's champions Robert Vallis or Gail Flanagan of New York have entered.

The Amstel League will also be played and team captains are reminded that players competing in the stroke play can use their scores for the Amstel League. Therefore, teams must be phoned to the secretary by today.

The BGA Monthly Medal Play competition will also be held on Saturday and those entries should also be in by today.