Columbus College in Georgia in 1993.

He was going to be part of the number one ranked team in the NCAA's second division, a squad which included four All Americans. Also, the team had won four NCAA titles during the past 10 years and had never finished out of the top four.

Garland was "red shirted'' that first year, but through hard work and determination became a full member of the team this year and is about to compete in the NCAA championships, the biggest tournament of the year in US collegiate golf.

In 1992-93 he was a back-to-back winner of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association's prestigious Atlantic tournament and has represented Bermuda on numerous occasions in overseas tournaments.

The Columbus College squad is currently in the process of rebuilding after losing three seniors from last year's winning team.

The tournament -- featuring 18 teams from the US and beginning on May 16 -- will be played at the University of South Carolina and besides Garland the Columbus team will include Mark Immelman, Matt Payne, Bart Middlebrook and Chad Glahton.

Among the tournament favourites are South Carolina, Florida Southern and the University of North Carolina.

CHRIS GARLAND -- set to compete in the most prestigious US collegiate tournament of the year.