yesterday when he carried off individual honours in the B Division of the World Amateur Team Championships at La Boulie in France.

Mayne proved to be the most outstanding player among some 80 golfers from more than 20 nations who were relegated to the B Division after two days of the championships, at which point Bermuda as a team stood in 26th position among a field of 45 countries.

At the end of the fourth and final round yesterday, Bermuda placed ninth in the B group having entered the day in second position.

And they had Mayne to thank for their high placing after he fired a superb one-under-par 71 on Saturday -- the best score by far among the B nations -- on the par 72 French National Course at Saint Quentin-en-Yvelins just west of Paris.

Mayne could manage only a six-over-par 78 yesterday, but such was his lead after Saturday's round, by six shots, that he hung on to win the individual B title.

Meanwhile, all four of Bermuda's team members contributed to the final team placing which put them ahead of a dozen other countries, their best performance at these championships in several years.

On Saturday, Tony Readwin posted 82, Henry Ascento 85 and Noel Van Putten 95 while yesterday Readwin fired 80, Van Putten 81 and Ascento 86. Three out of four scores counted on each day.

Van Putten and Ascento are expected to return to the Island today and will be in the field for the Bermuda Open which begins at Port Royal on Thursday.

Neither Mayne nor Readwin have entered the Open.

The American team won their 10th World Amateur Team Championship yesterday, finishing 11 shots ahead of a combined Britain-Ireland team.

The four-man US squad ended up 23-under-par at 838. The Britain and Ireland squad, a single shot back after the third round, fell away badly yesterday to finish 12-under at 849.

Sweden came through to take third place at 855 followed by Australia in fourth place at 858.

Veteran Allen Doyle from LaGrange, Georgia was the mainstay of the squad.

The 46-year-old, three-time World Championship participant shot rounds of 68-70-69-70 for a 10-under total of 277 and claimed the unofficial title of best individual player.

On Sunday, fellow veteran John Harris from Edina, Minnesota fired a 67, Tiger Woods compiled a steady 72 and Todd Demsey shot an 80, which as the worst score did not count.

Scott Mayne