the Tanqueray Ladies Day Classic yesterday.

Playing for the first time in 16 months, the Island veteran extended Gloria Ehret to a play-off before succumbing in the eighth annual women's professional golf tournament at St. George's.

A crowd of more than 70 golfers and fans crowded around the 334-yard par four 18th hole to watch the play-off in sunny but blustery conditions. "It was a made for TV day,'' said tournament founder and St. George's pro Kim Swan.

It was on the first play-off hole that Symonds' rustiness finally showed through when she sent her tee shot out of bounds on the way to a triple bogey.

Ehrets, a former winner on the LPGA Tour, settled for a five but that was enough for the $1,000 first place cheque. Symonds, who picked up $600 for second, had joined Ehrets with a 67. Kim Marshall enjoyed her first payday as a pro, collecting $500, after a third-place 69 while Judithanne Astwood finished in a tie for fourth and picked up $300.

Marshall could easily have doubled her earnings. After surviving a triple bogey on the seventh hole, she battled back into a share of the lead -- until another triple on the par-three 17th.

Ehret, also struggled on the back nine, picking up bogeys on the 10th, 11th 12th and 15th holes in addition to the 18th after an even par 30 on the front nine. A native of Dallas, Texas, she's a regular in Bermuda.

Despite the long lay-off, Symonds, who worked at St. George's for ten years, said she felt confident throughout her round. Apart from a stint this week on the driving range, the only golf she has played was a practice round on Sunday.

Symonds so close . . .

From Page 13 "But this is my home course and I felt very comfortable,'' she said.

"It was just a pleasure to be out there playing again with the ladies. It was a lot of fun.'' Now Symonds, a three-time Tanqueray champion, says she'll be playing a lot more golf in the future.

Ehrets, Marshall, Astwood and others return to Easter Lily Pro-Am play today, with the third and final round, also at St. George's.

In yesterday's amateur division (0-19 handicap) Pressie Hoffman took gross honours with a 72 followed by Winnie DeSilva on 73 while the low net was carded by Joan Wood (57). Among the 20-30 handicappers, Nancy Satzinger had the low gross of 80 and Gursharn Harvey the low net of 54.