Championships kick off next week (the first round is on Monday) at the Castle Harbour Golf Club with another stellar field lined up.

At least 26 overseas teams -- 24 from the United States and two hailing from Germany -- each containing four members, including one professional -- are expected to grace the Island for what has become one of the more intimate and exciting local tournaments.

A purse of $8,000 will be up for grabs, with $2,500 set aside for the overall net winners (54 holes). There will also be a Toyota Tercell up for grabs to anyone notching a hole-in-one on the fifth hole of Wednesday's Charity Invitational Pro-Am.

Defending champions Chateau Elan will not be making the trip this year, however, so a wide open race is expected.

Last year's second and fourth place finishers -- Cripple Creek Golf and Country Club of Delaware and Maryland's Rolling Road Golf Club -- along with the Floridians are counted among the favourites.

Meanwhile, reigning pro champ Rick Acton is set for a return as is Pawtucket Country Club (Rhode Island), winners of the gross division (36 holes) last year, as is Avila Golf and Country Club, who were second.

The charity event is also aimed to benefit sufferers of AIDS. Also on tap is the Pro-Lady competition beginning on Sunday.

This year marks the 11th time the husband-and-wife team of Fritz and Joan Reiter and their restaurant have been sole sponsors of the event, which often serves to enliven the drab winter months, and provides a financial boost for the local economy.

"We're looking at 175 to 200 people coming, which is a definite boost for the market, especially in February,'' tournament director Tom Mason said during yesterday's luncheon and press conference.

Loved by competitors and appreciated by businesses that enjoy spin-offs from the influx of patrons, the tournament is organised in the manner of a cosy family gathering, but with all the competitive zeal of a major event.

"Very intimate and personal'' was the way Mason described the tournament, sprung from humble beginnings over two decades ago, when it was known as the Beefeater Gin tournament.

Mason revealed how Reiter came on board in 1975 after he was acting as the master of ceremonies of the Beefeater prize presentation. At the time, Mason expressed doubts regarding the event's future because of a lack of finances.

Moments later a waiter presented Mason a crumpled napkin with the message, "How much does it cost to sponsor?'' scribbled on it, to which Mason printed "$3,000''.

"You got it for next year'' was the reply from Reiter, and even though the cost has since risen ten-fold, the relationship between the pair continues to bloom 11 years later.

TAKING ANOTHER SHOT AT THE POT -- Last year's runners up in the gross division, Avila Golf and Country Club, from left Ian Blanks, Allan Reeve, Peter Emmanuel and Tom Douglas, will be back this year.