Former national soccer coach Kyle Lightbourne was all smiles after strolling off the 18th green with his Great Lakes Tour team-mates at Mid Ocean Club yesterday.

And for good reason as the former professional player-turned-golfer and his team combined for a final round of nine-under-par 62 that propelled them to the Goodwill net division title.

Great Lakes covered the 72-hole event with a four-round score of 41under par for a total of 241 - finishing two shots ahead of runners-up Salt Lake B (243) while third place honours went to Silvermine GC B on 244.

Leading Great Lakes to the title were pro Dennis Hendershot and Bermudians Stephen Rego, Lightbourne and another former footballer who has traded his studs for spikes, Shaun Knight.

And making the newly crowned champions' achievement all the more impressive was the fact they started this week's tournament a player short - a void that was eventually filled by former Somerset Trojan Knight on the second day.

"On the Monday we only had three players and so I was constantly calling Shaun who finally joined up with us on the Tuesday," an ecstatic Lightbourne said last night. "To be honest Shaun played excellent golf all week."

Pro Hendershot also proved to be a tower of strength throughout the week while not to be outdone, Rego came up trumps when it mattered most, birdieing the seventh hole at Mid Ocean during Thursday's penultimate round to position his team well within striking distance of top honours.

"That birdie really gave us some momentum and whenever we were in a bit of trouble someone always stepped up to the plate," Lightbourne said, adding: "This was the first real big tournament I have played in and so it is very pleasing to be a part of our team's success."

Salt Lake B (260) won the gross division followed by Eagles Nest who finished second ahead of third-placed Cyprian Keyes on retrogression after both finished tied on 262.

Montebello GC (265) captured the seniors' gross title while Belfair GC (245) won the seniors' net division.

PGA Tour player Ron Philo (83 points) clinched the junior pro individual division over Sam Olson (74) and Bermuda's Andrew Trott (73), while European Tour player Delroy Cambridge defeated Canadian Craig Marseilles on the third hole of a play-off to win the senior pro division.

"The weather was perfect and the players finished in fine form," said tournament organiser Alex Madeiros.

Full scores - see Scoreboard, Page 26