A young but relatively experienced Bermuda team begin their quest for glory this morning at the women?s World Amateur Team Golf Championships in Puerto Rico.

Former professional Kim Botelho (formerly Marshall), who regained her amateur status last year, along with students Laura Robinson and Ebonie Burgess arguably represent one of the strongest female teams Bermuda have entered in the biennial championships at which the prestigious Espirito Santo Trophy will be up for grabs.

But as Marshall, who celebrated her 30th birthday on Saturday, remarked before leaving last week, a realistic goal would be a place in the top 15 as Bermuda face competition from the leading amateurs from almost 50 countries.

Play in the 72-hole strokeplay tournament is taking place at two courses at the Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico and today Bermuda?s trio begin at the par 72, 6,159 yard Ocean course which was designed by Tom Fazio.

Bermuda have been paired with Peru and Turkey for the opening two rounds with Botelho, who is expecting her first child in less than three months? time, teeing off at 8.30 a.m. local time, followed by Robinson at 8.40 and Burgess, a student at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, at 8.50.

Tomorrow play switches to the Greg Norman-designed River course, which from the ladies? tees measures just under 6,000 yards.

Traditionally the tournament attracts many of the world?s top amateur players and among those who have competed in the past are Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak, Nancy Lopez, Juli Inkster as well as several other current stars on the LPGA Tour.

Meanwhile, Bermuda?s men?s team, which is believed to be the youngest ever to represent the Island at a world championships, will be leaving for the same venue later this week.

Nineteen year-old Jarryd Dillas, Eric West, 20, and Fraser Hunt, 20, all studying in the US, will compete over the same two courses for the Eisenhower Trophy, starting next Thursday.

All three are currently playing their golf in the USA with Hunt studying at the University of Rhode Island, Dillas attending Columbus State University in Georgia and West at UC Berkeley in California.

Hunt, Dillas and West all earned selection after finishing first, second and third respectively at last June?s Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships at Port Royal.

The trio will get chance to play on both courses in Puerto Rico in practice rounds early next week.

From the championship tees, the Ocean course will measure 6,807 yards and the River course, on the edge of El Yunque rainforest, 6,987 yards.

In both the men?s and women?s tournaments, two out of three scores will count each day towards the team total.