course is no place to be sentimental after long-time friend Ted Kenerson took a delight in knocking him out of the Mid Ocean Men's Invitation Tournament.

Stimets, aiming for a second straight crown, was beaten one-up by Kenerson in the semifinals to set the stage for a new champion to emerge from today's 18-hole final with Charles Hartnett.

The same applies in the junior division where either American Bo Winiker or medallist Thomas Hubner of Germany will be bidding, over 36 holes, to etch their name on the trophy for the first time.

Winiker, of Brookline, Massachusetts, has already described his progress in this tournament as the highlight of his career -- regardless of how today's final turns out.

"I've been coming to the Island for this tournament for 13, 14 years and have never even played in the championship flight before,'' said Winiker.

"My handicap is nine so to take on the best players and win over three first-class players is definitely the highlight of my career. I'm not really a tournament player back home, just a social golfer. The only tournament I play in is here.'' Winiker beat Gene Atkinson of New Jersey two-up in yesterday's semifinal while Hubner got by one of the pre-tournament favourites, Doug Clark, two and one.

"I was on the defensive for most of the match but managed to win the ninth hole to go even,'' Winiker explained.

Winiker lost the 10th, halved 11 and 12, but won 13 to wipe out Atkinson's lead.

After halving the 14th, the turning point of the match came on the par-five 15th hole when Winiker recovered to make par and share the hole, having used his pitching wedge to put the ball within six feet of the hole.

"It was definitely my best par and then I went on to win 16 to go one-up, tied 17 and then won 18 when I made par,'' said Winiker.

Hubner was leading Clark by five holes at the turn and though Clark picked his game up on the back nine, the German never let him come close.

"He got me down to three-up on 16 where I three-putted,'' Hubner explained.

"Then I closed the match on 17 with a solid par.'' The closest Hubner has come to victory was in 1987 when Stimets beat him in the final. But he is confident of going all the way this time.

"In all four rounds I've never shot worse than 74,'' he said. "I'm quite confident.'' Kennerson, with his good friend (since 1964) Stimets out of the way, is within one win of his first senior title.

"Dick went out on the front nine with a birdie on two and then won five and six to go three-up,'' Kenerson explained. "I was about even par but Dick was playing better.

"Then I won eight and 10 with pars and 11 with a birdie to go even. I won 13 with a par, Dick won 14 with a par, I won 16 with a par and he won 17 with a par.

"On 18 both had good drives on the right side but I hit a four-iron about 16 feet from the flag and he hit a very good shot but the wind knocked it down. I won with a two putt for par.'' Hartnett, who beat Clayton Eisenger two and one, has played in four previous finals without success. He has been beaten by Jack Wahl (twice), Stimets and Forbes Wilson.

"I've won as a team but never as an individual,'' he stated.

THOMAS HUBNER -- Junior medallist and finalist.