Bermuda?s three-woman team at the World Amateur Team Golf Championships in Puerto Rico are hoping for a grandstand finish today after showing a slight improvement on the third day yesterday only to slip down the standings.

Despite a round of 80 from Laura Robinson ? her best of the week ? on the Ocean course at Rio Mar Country Club in Rio Grande and an 81 from Ebonie Burgess, Bermuda tumbled from 36th to 39th among the 47 remaining teams. Three countries have already withdrawn.

While the third member of Bermuda?s team, former professional Kim Botelho, returned a score of 84, Burgess and Robinson?s efforts gave the Island a combined total of 161 ? their best so far this week after scores of 166 on the opening day followed by 167 on Thursday.

But on another day when conditions were anything but ideal ? torrential rain for the third straight day and lightning caused organisers to suspend play early in the afternoon ? Bermuda?s trio found the going tough.

?It was another very difficult day for them,? said team manager Eric Robinson, the father of Laura.

?It?s still raining as I speak and it?s been like this since we arrived.

?Today they all played well on the first nine but then seemed to tire on the back nine.

?That?s been something of a pattern this week. The rounds have been taking up to five and three quarter hours to complete and I?ve been stressing to them the importance of eating properly midway during the round to keep their energy levels up.

?Laura was actually only two over after the front nine today, but slipped back on the back nine.

?But they all feel they can play better and they want to put up a good show on the last day tomorrow (today). They?d really like to overhaul the hosts, Puerto Rico, who are only five shots ahead.?

Also within striking distance of Bermuda (494) are the Czech Republic (492), the Bahamas (492) and Slovakia (491).

Canada (425) hold a slim two-shot lead over Sweden (427) with the USA a further three shots back on 430.

With the women?s championship scheduled to wind up today, the same resort will next week host the World Amateur Team Championships for men in which youngsters Jarryd Dillas (19), Eric West (20) and Fraser Hunt (20) will represent Bermuda.

The three players, all currently studying in the US, make up the youngest-ever team to carry the Island?s banner at a world golf championship.

They are scheduled to play practice rounds on both Rio Mar courses early next week before the tournament proper tees off on Thursday.

Bermuda Golf Association president Bob Legere will be accompanying the team as manager.

Bermuda pro golfer Michael Sims advanced through the first stage of the PGA Tour Q-School yesterday in the USA.

The 25-year-old Bermudian carded four-under 209 for joint 19th place with four others to squeeze into the low 23 finishers at the Tournament Players Club in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Sims had successive rounds of 68, 73 and 68 on the par-71 lay-out and will now compete in the second stage of the qualifier. Should he advance to Q-School?s third and final phase he will vie for playing rights on the PGA Tour or the Nationwide Tour.

This marks the third successive year Sims has attempted to earn his PGA Tour card at Q-School.