Bermuda's top three female golfers will compete together for the first time as professionals this week when they take part in the Tanqueray Ladies Day Classic on Thursday at St. George's.

Janice Symonds, Judithanne Astwood and Kim Marshall will be after a total purse of $4,000 as part of the eighth Bermuda Easter Lily Pro-Am, beginning today at Belmont.

Marshall, a Wake Forest University graduate now based in North Carolina as she attempts to qualify for the LPGA Tour, and Astwood will be making their debuts as professionals. Symonds, who became Bermuda's first female professional several years ago, is returning to tournament play after a two-year absence.

It is the only local tournament that offers prize money for professional women, other than competing with the men of the Bermuda PGA.

"I see this year, with the involvement of the local ladies as pros, as a tremendous plus,'' said tournament founder Kim Swan. "We have three local lady pros of a high calibre and we need something to encourage and inspire them.'' Swan expects them to be challenged by the visiting pros and has hopes of seeing the tournament grow.

"I would like to see the tournament attract up to 50 or more teams,'' said Swan. "It's a small event with a great deal of potential.

"We have been doing something for women's golf for eight years and our heart is there. We feel women's tournaments are important and there should be more tournaments directed at and for women. There is a big market out there from a tourism point of view.'' The top local trio battle it out against a tough overseas field which includes defending champion Troy Beck from Glen Dale GC, a former United States club pro champion, and Joy Bonhurst from the Chevy Chase Club in Maryland.

But the class of the field figures to be former LPGA champion Gloria Ehret of Dallas, Texas, who is no stranger to the event and should feel at home on the St. George's course.

A total of 15 teams will battle for the team championship beginning today at Belmont, Astwood's home course.

Last year, the net title went to Mid Ocean Club, led by Holly Anderson of Maryland. Also in the Mid Ocean team last year were Shirley James, Bea Williams and Judy Kitson, but this year Anderson has brought her own team, Columbia CC.

In total there are nine teams with two or more visitors, one from as far away as Portland, Oregon (Oswego Lake CC).

Astwood will lead the Belmont team, which includes Linda Fenton, Leslie Watson and Gilda Furbert, while Marshall will be the pro in the Lobster Pot team of her mother, Ann Marshall, Winnie DeSilva and Joan Reiter.

A total of 40 visitors are flying in for the event, which will also be played at Port Royal tomorrow before finishing at St. George's on Friday.

The Pro-Am is sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Tourism, with the Belmont Hotel hosting the visitors. Tournament organisers are local pro Kim Swan, and regular visitor Joe Carr, who is the pro at Bedrock Golf Club in Massachusetts.

The tournanment is open to both the professionals and amateurs with a handicap of 30 or less. There will be three flights for amateurs and prizes will be awarded for gross and net winner in each flight.

Kim Marshall