Championships at Mid Ocean Club as the quarter-finals take place.

One sure to attract attention will be the all-Bermudian contest pitting top amateur Scott Mayne against long-time friend Hav Trott in the lower half of the draw.

Another has defending champion Joel Hirsch teeing off against another local, Tony Readwin, while Malcolm Burgess contests Barry Brewer.

As is often the case in the early rounds, there was a major surprise as Arthur Jones rose to defeat 1991 champion Doug Clark of the United States on the 19th hole and earn the right of passage to the quarters. He will face Davis Sezna.

For Mayne and Trott, today marks the pair's first ever head-to-head battle, although they have had numerous tussles on tournaments utilising the stroke play format.

Trott last night rated himself as the underdog, alluding to what he noted as Mayne's "stronger all-round game off the tee and on the green''.

"I tend to be more sporadic in my play,'' added Trott, who disposed of former Bermuda Stroke Play champion Jack Wahl yesterday two and one.

"Sometimes I'm good off the tee and others I'm all over the place.

"Scott's a very fine player and I'm going to be hard-pressed against him, it'll be tough.'' Mayne was more modest about his talents and pointed to the strong winds, which have proven a crucial factor thus far in the tournament, as serving to level the playing field a bit.

Referring to yesterday's contest where he beat Michael McGuire two and one Mayne was not exactly thrilled by his performance and future prospects, especially if the conditions remained as they were.

"It's blowing so hard that it's more a matter of survival on each hole,'' explained the one-time professional who only regained amateur status last year.

"The winner of each hole is the one that rather than making good shots doesn't make bad shots. Everybody's making bad shots and you just have to hope that you make less of them than your opponent.'' Joel Hirsch is certainly a candidate in that regard after blowing past his second straight competitor in as many days by a healthy margin.

Victim number two was Michael Rose -- the first was Alex Lauchlan -- who fell to the remarkable consistency perpetrated by the three-time champion.

Rose was in immediate trouble, falling behind by four after only five holes, but was able to claw back to within two after seven had been played.

However, Rose, blew a chance to close to within a hole when he missed a three-foot putt at number eight.

"It was blowing so hard he (Rose) could not get his stance,'' said Hirsch.

"If he would have made it he would have been one down and had a lot of momentum going into the back nine.'' Hirsch noted how his own game appears to be steadily improving every day and that he hoped this would continue.

As for Readwin, Hirsch preferred not to comment much on his foe, but look at his own game.

"You have to win five matches to be champion, so I'm just thinking of making the shots to get there... just go out and do the business.'' SCOTT MAYNE.