Defending champions St. Charles Country Club from Winnipeg in Canada took a giant step towards retaining their Goodwill net title yesterday as they fired their third successive round in the 50s.

A superb 59 at Mid Ocean Club left pro Mike Sherman and his amateur trio of Oliver Plett, Charlie Spiring and Dominic Dirisio three shots clear heading in their final round at Tucker's Point today.

St. Charles have carded rounds of 59-58-59 for a 176 total of 36 under par which gives them a three-stroke cushion over second-placed Raleigh Country Club (Greg Stenzel, Cecil Davis jr, Jim Hodges and Cameron MacPhail) who turned in a 58 at Riddell's Bay yesterday.

Four shots off the pace in third place on 180 are two local teams, Southampton Princess and first-day leaders Tucker's Point.

Princess, led by Lee Custodio with amateurs Frank DeMoura, Paul Hayward and David Smith, turned in a 61 at Riddell's Bay yesterday while Kevin Benevides' Tucker's Point carded a 60 on their home course. Benevides' team includes Paul Booth, David Stultz and Danny Fagundo.

However, the highlight of yesterday's third round came at Port Royal where Rocksprings professional Jason Palosaari nailed the first hole-in-one of this year's tournament when he aced the par three third.

In the team gross championship, two clubs from Florida are neck and neck going into the final round.

Bob Duval and his Orange Park team are tied with Tim Conley's Avila Golf and Country Club on 192 (19 under par), three ahead of their nearest rivals.

Orange Park slipped yesterday with a 65 at Riddell's Bay while Avila turned in a 62 on the same course.

However, in the individual pro championships, being decided on a stableford format over four rounds, Duval continues to run away with the senior title.

He picked up 19 points at Riddell's Bay yesterday and now has a total of 57, six more than second placed Ed Whalley of the Meadow Brooks Golf Club.

In the junior division, St. Charles pro Sherman remains on course for a team and individual `double' as he registered 20 points at Mid Ocean Club yesterday and now has a total of 61, one more than Navesink's Steve Sieg. Conley lies in third place, four points behind Sherman.