talent locally these days. And that's one of the reasons why the defending Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay champion is eagerly awaiting this year's tournament at Port Royal.

On Saturday, Marshall will go in search of a third straight triumph, with the odds firmly in her favour.

Also, she'll be bidding for points towards selection for the Bermuda World Amateur Team Championship which will be held in Paris at the end of September.

Last year she and another college student, Duncan Zelkin, became the first teenagers to win in the same tournament and they will again be trying to fend off competition from their senior counterparts as they try for repeat successes.

"I'm playing okay right now, but I don't know how the others are playing,'' admitted Marshall who recently returned to the Island after completing her sophomore year at Wake Forest.

Not since she won last year's title with a record three-round total of 224, has Marshall played in a local tournament. But the prospect of lining up against the likes of Judithanne Astwood, Alisa Hardy, Pat Morgan and Madeline Joell has got Marshall in the mood.

The 21-member field also includes four overseas players, Starr Campbell, Ann Cerniglia, Barbara Barton and Julie Knight from the US.

"It would be great to win again but life is not over if I don't,'' the 19-year-old said this week.

"I want to play steady golf, I'm not trying to think of any numbers,'' she insists. "It was nice for two juniors to win last year.'' After two years of demanding college play, Marshall says one aspect of her game that has improved is the mental part. "My actual game probably hasn't changed too much,'' she says.

"I played okay but it wasn't a great (college) season. I played better last spring than this spring. This year I was working with someone up there and I made a few changes, some minor things that I hope will help me in the long run.'' Marshall's summer jaunt to the United States for tournaments will not be as hectic as in past years.

There are two qualifying tournaments lined up for July, one early in the month when she travels to New York in a bid to qualify for the US Open to be held in Michigan and a qualifier for the US Amateur at the end of the month in Chicago.

After returning to school in late August, Marshall will, if she qualifies, begin preparing for the World Amateur Team Championships a month later.

But she agrees selection will depend on how she does this weekend.