Ben Hogan tour circuit where he was successful in reaching the qualifying round in one of four tournaments.

Undaunted by his modest achievement while away for five weeks the 29-year-old golfer vows to return to the United States within a few weeks to continue a long-time dream of reaching the final round of a professional tour event.

"I really intend to give it another try and playing regular in a tournament like the Ben Hogan is the start needed to get me going. You just get rusty if you stay here too long and don't compete regularly among a field of top golfers,'' said Pearman.

"There are some really good golfers from all over the world participating in these tournaments, many of whom turn in scores which are just as good as players on the regular tour,'' he added.

Pearman's recent attempt marked the second consecutive year he had tackled the Ben Hogan tour. His first saw Pearman play only two tournaments and manage to qualify once.

This year's tournaments were held in Tennessee and South Carolina and it was in Tennessee where he qualified. However, his game wasn't that sharp in the final and he just missed the cut after the second round.

Pearman, who attributes his involvement in overseas golf to his major sponsor Dan Panoz of Chatea Elan Golf Club in Atlanta, was inspired to returned to United States to play for an extended period by Kim Swan's comments late last year.

Swan, president of the Bermuda Professional Golfer's Association, said at the time that it was imperative for Pearman to find a sponsor and play regularly abroad. Swan analysed Pearman's position after the player finished near the bottom of the field of 90 competing in the PGA second qualifying round at Superstition Springs Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.

"Pearman is loaded with raw talent, but he has to play regularly among the same players he goes up against on the tours. To be competitive you just can't be satisfied to play in the few tournaments here and expect to do well and break through in the US PGA, it's like a jungle up there,'' said Swan.

Pearman admitted that the comments by `Swan had struck home and given him the incentive to go abroad and get more involved.

"I realise that we don't have sufficient tournaments here for my game to stay sharp like it should in order to be competitive in international tournaments so it is important to go away,'' said Pearman, who has been one of the most successful professionals in local tournaments over the past few years.

Now that he is focussing on playing abroad, Pearman isn't at all concerned about entering the few major tournaments that Bermuda has to offer. "I'll probably play in the Bermuda Open, but I don't know about the others,'' he said.

DWAYNE PEARMAN -- On the Ben Hogan tour.