after he shot the only sub-par round yesterday to open a six-stroke lead going into today's final round.

The local pro carded his second straight three-under-par 67 and is set to become the first Bermudian since Scott Mayne in 1986 to land the title. But despite the comfortable Pearman refuses to take the title for granted, insisting that anything can happen on the final day.

"I'll be trying to keep it together, keep my head down and take one hole at a time,'' he said after yesterday's round, which contained four birdies, on holes five, 10, 12 and 15, and a bogey on the 13th after missing a putt from less than two feet.

"I misread the shot,'' explained Pearman who three-putted the hole to go two under. "I thought it was going to move from right to left but it stayed straight. I've been putting good on the last couple of days.'' Pearman had a par three on the 14th and scored his fourth birdie on the 15th to go back to three under to stay as for the first time this week Pearman parred the downhill 17th hole. His put his tee shot about 17 feet from the pin and then two-putted for par after his first putt failed by inches to bring him a birdie.

"I wasn't being greedy, I just didn't want to three-putt like I did on the first day,'' he explained.

Pearman completed his round by putting his second shot to the right edge of the green behind two trees. However, he still managed to chip the ball perfectly onto the green less than six feet from the pin before sinking his putt for par.

"I had a couple of drives which I didn't hit solid but hit straight,'' said Pearman. "I was just trying to keep the ball in play and hit the greens.'' Pearman sits six strokes ahead of first-day leader Anthony Mocklow with his six-under-par 204, as Mocklow shot his second straight two-over 72 to slip back, though he is still in second place.

Visitor Bob Mucha remains in third spot on 212 following his 72 yesterday while former Bermuda amateur champion Hav Trott continues to climb up the leader board following his second straight even-par round of 70, which leaves him on 215, 11 shots behind but with a good chance of finishing in the top three.

Trott looks set to win the junior amateur title now that Tim Carr, also a two handicapper, has slipped down the table from sixth to 13th after his worst round of the week of 77 yesterday. Trott will grab some of the spotlight today when he plays alongside Fran Marello and Steve Napoli, just ahead of Pearman, Mocklow and Mucha.

Trott was one of two players -- Gene Peterson being the other -- to shoot even par as he moved level with Marello after the visitor shot a 72 yesterday to stay in the top five.

While regular visitor Joe Carr moved into first place in the senior pro category with his one-over-par 71, which puts him eighth overall -- four strokes ahead of John Scheffler -- two local seniors saved yesterday's third round for their worst scores.

J.J. Madeiros was actually level with Hav Trott after the second day on 145, but his 79 yesterday allowed Carr to move from two strokes behind him to six in front. Madeiros now trails Scheffler by two strokes in the senior professional category.

Senior amateur leader Noel Van Putten shot a disappointing 83 yesterday to go with his 73 and 71 on the first two days and as a result slipped from eighth overall to 26th. Van Putten still leads his division.

1991 Belmont champion Tim Conley struggled to a 77 yesterday at the final PGA Qualifying Tournament. He is in an 11-player tie for 29th place going into today's final round at The Woodlands in Texas. The top 40 will receive their PGA Tour cards for 1993. Scores, Page 26.

ON THE BALL -- Dwayne Pearman carries a commanding six-stroke lead into today's final round.