MICHAEL SIMS might be the latest local golfer to join the professional ranks, but the Island's most successful and celebrated pro over the last 10 years or so, Dwayne Pearman, isn't about to give up that mantle without a fight.

The Ocean View head pro still feels he has a lot to prove and, just like Sims, will take a shot at qualifying for the Canadian Tour next month.

Anybody who watched Pearman in action on his home course last Thursday would find it hard to believe that he hasn't already made his mark on the bigger stage overseas.

His sensational score of 62 over the nine-hole Devonshire track during a regular weekly skins game will go down in the record books as the best ever at Ocean View.

The softly-spoken Pearman, never one to shout about his own accomplishments, would quip later: "I got lucky."

But it's unlikely there was much if any luck involved in a bogey-free round which included six birdies and an eagle, and which slashed two shots off the old course record of 64, reportedly held by Port Royal's Frankie Rabain.

As South African Gary Player once replied to a critic: "Funny, the more I practice, the luckier I get."

Pearman, despite being limited in his forays overseas by club and family commitments, continues to put in the work required of a tournament pro, and on days like last Thursday there are all the signs that like, Sims, who enjoyed a sensational summer in US amateur events, he has what it takes to make the grade.

But while, like Sims, he has that ability to shoot low, what he lacks is a consistent high level of competition, something that can't be found in Bermuda.

Add to that his work at Ocean View - which this month sees him take off the annual PGA Show in Florida - and his chances of matching his younger rival, who intends to devote all of his time to tournament golf once he finishes his last semester at Rhode Island University in May, are much diminished.

Yet Pearman, who thanks to sponsorship from businessman David Ezekiel has made a number of attempts to qualify for Buy.Com Tour events in the past, says he still has an ambition to compete as a tournament professional regularly.

"I'm still playing well. My game's in good shape," he said, somewhat understating his record round last week. "I'm looking at the Canadian Tour this year. I'd like to qualify and try and play a few tournaments.

"We'll just see how it goes."

Much of Bermuda's attention might be on Sims this year but, perhaps inspired by his fellow countryman, Pearman appears ready to launch a challenge.

Next time they meet head to head, it could be interesting!

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AS SEEN in the picture on this page, Belmont's new owners have wasted little time in getting the bulldozers out as they begin work on redesigning the course.

The reconstruction is expected to take at least 18 months, but making the most of last week's fine weather, work crews were out digging up several of the greens, some of which will be relocated and all of which will eventually feature Tiff-eagle grass, making for a much faster putting surface.

Work is also expected to begin soon on two lakes which will become a feature of the new course on land between what was formerly holes two, seven and eight.