Amateur Match Play Championships of one of its top overseas competitors, but others are using whatever means possible to get to Bermuda in time for today's qualifying round of the tournament at Mid Ocean Club.

Doug Clark, the 1991 champion, has had trouble with flights from Concorde, North Carolina, and has been forced to withdraw. But for some the many flight cancellations on the east coast of the United States, brought on by the storm which has left thousands stranded, was not a good enough reason to stay at home.

One player, 1991 runner-up Walker Taylor, drove 400 miles (six hours) to Washington to catch the only available flight to Boston. He is due to arrive midday today. Another, Joel Hirsch of Lake Shore Country Club in Chicago, arrived on the weekend by company jet. Hirsch, who plays off a one-handicap, won the tournament in 1982 and '83.

Two other players, American David Van Cleef and Canadian David Foster, arrived from the North Carolina area without their clubs -- such is the determination to arrive in time.

"We're glad to be here after spending a couple of days in the airport,'' said two-handicapper Van Cleef, who learned of the tournament from scratch player Foster who competed last year.

The pair travelled from South Carolina to Atlanta to Boston and onto Bermuda, arriving yesterday. "Hopefully I can have my own clubs so that I can feel more confortable,'' said Van Cleef, who has also sailed in a couple of Newport-Bermuda races, the last in 1985.

Jeff Kiley, the stroke play champion in 1989 at Port Royal, contacted BGA secretary Tom Smith yesterday morning to say he was leaving Los Angeles late in the afternoon, arriving in New York late last night and hoping to get a flight to Bermuda this morning.

"We're keeping a spot open for him,'' said Tom Smith yesterday. "That's the sort of enthusiasm these guys have shown and it's remarkable.'' Smith said allowances would be made today, within reason, to accommodate those players arriving at noon. In order to play in the championship they must compete in the qualifying round.

"We're going to move some locals up to allow for late arrivals,'' Smith explained. "We can go up to 2.15-2.30 lightwise and we will do that for obvious reasons.'' One player not required to participate today, but doing so anyway to use it as a practice round, is defending champion Robert Vallis who will go into the tournament proper as the top seed. Vallis beat Ricky Cox last year three and two in the first all-Bermuda final in 15 years.

Local casualties include Max Atherden who has an injured wrist and Nick Mansell who is unavailable because of work commitments.

DOUG CLARK -- Stranded in North Carolina.