surprises in local golf, finishing with a birdie blitz to force a play-off in the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships and then capturing the title by beating local resident Tim Carr on the first hole of sudden death.

When he steps onto the first tee this morning at the start of this year's championships, he's hopeful he can regain that magic touch.

Now aged 21, the Jacksonville State University student, who is majoring in International Business, says he's a more mature golfer -- and also a realist, fully aware that the field will show little respect for any of the former winners.

Nobody knows better than Zelkin that if he's to repeat his 1993 success, then it's likely going to take a better performance then the four-round total of 300 he turned in two years ago.

Defending his title last year, Zelkin could finish only seventh on 307, a whopping 14 shots behind Henry Ascento who led home the field with a score of 293.

Ascento, Tim Carr, Jeff Kiley, Hav Trott, Robert Vallis and Clyde Burgess are among the former winners who along with Zelkin will be expected to be in contention for this year's title.

And the uncertainties are many with several newcomers bidding to make their mark in a tournament in which the field quickly filled to capacity.

But if confidence plays an important part in establishing this year's winner, the Zelkin reckons he's in with a chance.

He hasn't been competitive on the local scene this year because of his studies abroad but as a key member of his college golf team, his game has remained sharp while playing in both regional and national tournaments.

"I feel much better this year than last year going into the Strokeplay, I'm pretty confident,'' said Zelkin yesterday. "I'm hitting the ball much better, putting better and I feel that my game as a whole has got better.'' Zelkin got a tremendous confidence boost on Tuesday this week when playing with friends at Port Royal he fired an even par 71 -- one of his better scores on the Southampton course. He recalled his previous best as being either one-under or even par.

Zelkin says he has no real concerns about his overall game, claiming that if he can put his tee shots onto the fairways, then he will score well.

"If I get on the fairways okay then the iron shots into the greens aren't that long, it will require mostly seven, eight or nine irons, and that's mostly my strong point -- hitting the short irons.

"I know that if I hit a few greens I am going to make quite a few birdies because I am putting really well,'' he said.

His first priority, however, is to improve on last year's performance. "The main thing I want to do this year is go out there and shoot good golf. If I don't, then that's the way it goes. But I really want to be as competitive as possible,'' he added.

Duncan Zelkin