awards ceremony last weekend at Ocean View Club.

Mouchette has been emerging as one of the most promising young referees over the last few years, and has been on three overseas assignments in the last six months.

Last November he officiated as a referee's assistant in an Olympic qualifier in in the Dominican Republic along with Stuart Crockwell and Lyndon Raynor and then with the same pair also travelled to Trinidad and Tobago and Anguilla this year for World Cup qualifiers.

The referees association also paid tribute to retired referees, Roddy Burchall, Glynn Gilbert, Aldwyn Savery and George West.

"The committee decided to recognise those people while they are still here and not when they are gone,'' said vice president Lyndon Raynor.

Ralph Tumbridge's willingness to respond to assignments on short notice did not go unnoticed as he received the president's award for going beyond the call of duty and filling for others. All the other referees received participation awards.

Former top referee Charlie Marshall was guest speaker and spoke about the commitment of referees and how the game is about the fans and the players with a referee doing a good job if, after he comes off the field, nobody can remember who did the game.

BEACHTOPS FIRST-DAY LEADERBOARD GLF Beach tops first-day leaderboard Local player Millard Beach holds a four-stroke lead after carding a fine one-under par 69 on the opening day of the Bermuda Men's Senior championships at Riddell's Bay.

Beach, playing off a six handicap, is setting the pace with American Clark McKenzie, the defending champion, and last year's runner-up, local resident Rod Holloway, tied for second on 69.

Scratch player McKenzie, who hails from Maryland, is seeking a fourth straight title in the 54-hole event which finishes tomorrow.

A further stroke back on 74 are local trio Howard DeSilva and Eddie Marshall, both playing off five handicaps, and six-handicapper Eldon Raynor.

A total of 54 men are taking part in the tournament, one of the biggest fields since the tournament began in 1986. Six of the players are from overseas.

The women play the first of their two rounds today, with previous winners Joan Foulger and Diana Diel both having withdrawn from the tournament.

"Don't expect me to be pleased at Mark James being involved in the next Ryder Cup. I would have hoped the captain would have gone for someone new.'' -- An unenthusiastic response from French golfer Jean van de Velde to the news that European Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has appointed James as one of his two vice-captains for the match against the United States at The Belfry, England, next year. Story on page 16.