Peter van Lingen has this past week been lighting a fire on the courts at the Coral Beach Invitational Tennis Tournament.

The 49-year-old South African-born Lingen -- he is now a United States citizen -- will contest both the men's open and 45 singles finals as well as the mixed doubles where he teams with girlfriend Mary Henderson.

Yesterday saw him easily dispose of Joe Heffernan in straight sets 6-1, 6-1 to reach the open final where he will face number one seed Anthony Bauman.

"I'm still hanging in for an old man,'' said van Lingen. "It's my first trip here, the tournament has been excellent and the competition is quite good.'' Van Lingen left his native country 25 years ago but not before building up quite an extensive resume. He once teamed with Cliff Drysdale -- now a television analyst -- on the South Africa Davis Cup team and has competed at three of the four grand slam tournaments, Wimbledon, French Open and US Open.

In fact van Lingen reached the last 32 of the latter in 1967. And his most memorable victory came in 1966 against Chuck McKindley who had won Wimbledon the previous year and was rated as the number four player in the US.

He continued on the circuit until 1968, going up against the likes of Stan Smith, John Newcombe and Fred Stully.

But van Lingen would cut short his touring to attend college in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Said van Lingen: "There was no money in the game back then. We all played purely for the love of the game.'' Recently he was a member of the US Dubler Cup squad -- a senior Davis Cup tournament -- that lost in the final to West Germany and he and son Peter Jr., are the top ranked father/son combination in America.

Another senior tournament, the Stevens Cup in Costa Rica, lead him to local shores when he came across locals Robin Blackburn and David Marshall at the event. The pair offered an invitation which van Lingen graciously accepted.

Meanwhile 24-year old Princeton graduate Baumer has also lived up to his top billing, although he had a tough time reaching the final, needing three sets to defeat Peter Harvey 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6).

"It was endless,'' said Bauman, the number one seed, whose regular job is that of a stockbroker on Wall Street. "It just kept going on and on.

Everytime I got the momentum things would swing his way.'' Playing out of the Bay Head Yacht Club in New Jersey Baumer was advised to come to Bermuda by friend Ernie Keer after winning his own club tournament a number of times.

Keer has been a regular visitor to the Island and pointed the 24-year-old Baumer in the direction of Coral Beach.

"I really wanted to come down, enjoy Bermuda and play some good tennis,'' said Baumer. "Tennis is more of a hobby for me. I don't take it that seriously.'' The pair -- Baumer and van Lingen -- also stand a chance of meeting in the mixed doubles final as well if they can get past today's semifinal opponents.

GOLDEN OLDIE -- Peter van Lingen in action at the Coral Beach Club.