Well-known visiting professional Bob Mucha and friend Tino Ricco -- both competing in the Belmont Invitational -- found that out yesterday when they were disqualifed from the tournament for practising on the course the night before.

The pair were spotted chipping balls onto the 18th green by another pro at about 6 p.m. Tuesday and were immediately reported to tournament officials.

Another witness gave evidence to the tournament committee that night and yesterday.

"A decision was made this morning after talking with the players involved in the incident,'' said tournament director Keith Cassidy yesterday. "Based on the information given, we had to disqualify them according to the rules of the tournament.'' Rules governing the tournament forbid players from practising on the course during the duration of the tournament. The players' defence was that they were hitting balls into the harbour but even that is not allowed.

"Players must not hit balls into the harbour,'' the rule reads. "Any play on the course between rounds of the championship will result in disqualification.'' The exit from the tournament is a blow for Mucha, who was one of the favourites when competition started on Monday.

Mucha was among the leaders after the first two rounds. He sat on 140 -- eight strokes off the lead -- with local pro Barry DeCouto after rounds of 69 and 71.

Mucha, a Bermuda Open winner in 1989 and the Goodwill Professional Championship winner in 1993, would have been a strong bet to finish among the prize money. Ricco was further down the leaderboard on 163 after two rounds in the 80s.

Bob Mucha