successful siblings.

Bermuda Golf Association president Steve Perry alluded to it at the prize-presentation after the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay championships on Monday when brother and sister Michael and Lindsey Sims lifted the men's and women's titles.

That parents Bruce and Carol had been with them over the weekend as caddies made their double success all the more sweet, and Perry paid the ultimate tribute by asking them to present the winning trophies to their children.

"He (Perry) really made me cry today,'' admitted Sims' father, a top athlete himself a couple of decades ago when he was Bermuda's number one tennis player.

"It's a dream come true for sure. A parent couldn't ask for anything more, it just brought tears to our eyes. It was very emotional.'' Noting the world had seen golfer Tiger Woods supported by his parents, Perry praised those mothers and fathers who were at Port Royal with their youngsters over the weekend.

All are products of the junior golf programme, including Michael and Lindsey who upstaged players several years their senior. Teenager Ryan Mello was fourth among the men while youth swept the top three women's places where last year's winner, Alisa Hardy, was second and 15-year-old Laura Robinson third.

"I saw a lot of parents up here this weekend, carrying the bags of their children, a lot of them walking the fairways,'' Perry stated.

"I even had one mother on Saturday who was afraid to go with her son on the back nine because he was doing so well on the front. He immediately birdied 10, 11 and 12 and I told her `tomorrow I want you to give him up and adopt me as your son'.

"If there is anything to be said as we finish this side of the millenium it is that golf is in very good hands with the junior programme and that was certainly very evident this weekend.'' Nick Mansell had to settle for second among the men after Sims stepped up his game on the back nine on the final day. A product of the Bermuda Junior Golf Association, himself, Mansell isn't ready to step aside for the youngsters just yet. But he is impressed with what he sees of the young talent.

"It's good to see. I see the association is doing a lot with them,'' said Mansell.

"It's just a matter now of being able to continue that in the amateur ranks.

I also came up through the juniors ranks so it's good to see.'' While supportive, the Sims parents were careful not to overburden their children. Both initially started playing tennis before switching to golf as their father, too, became more involved in golf. He is the golf director at Southampton Princess.

"Actually Michael was quite a good tennis player when he was young and he won a couple of tournaments,'' recalled Bruce.

"Lindsey started in tennis as well, and then I changed sports myself and went into golf. We put them into the junior golf programme and they liked golf and were playing both sports at one point.'' But Bruce stressed he never pushed them in any direction.

"No, I would never do that, that's the worst thing you can do to your children,'' he said.

"I kind of told them to pick a sport, instead of having two sports just go for one. We're a close family so we went out and played a lot of golf together and that in itself was nice.'' Bruce doesn't mind admitting that it is Michael who wins the matches these days.

"I don't have a chance at the moment, he's too good for me now,'' said the father.

"But we have a lot of fun together which is really great.'' The family had fun together on the weekend as the parents accompanied their children.

"I'm out there as a caddy and we have an agreement that if he asks me a question then I tell him,'' said Bruce. "Otherwise I don't offer anything. We work together so there is no conflict.'' The investment in the Sims children will continue with Bruce and Michael leaving this week for the Northeast Amateur in Rhode Island. That tournament will feature the top 80 amateurs in the United States.

It is hoped to have Michael play in three or four tournaments overseas this summer, including the North-South at Pinehurst where the US Open was just played. Lindsey will travel to Jacksonville, Florida next month for an AJGA tournament.

"She's taking it a little bit more seriously in the last couple of years and is doing excellent,'' said Bruce of 18-year-old Lindsey.

"Michael is aspiring to be a professional golf player.''