represent the Island at the biennial World Amateur Team Championships in the Philippines later this year.

And there were few surprises.

On the men's side, Robert Vallis, as winner of last month's Amateur Strokeplay Championships at Port Royal and leader of the BGA's Order of Merit, was an automatic pick.

He's joined by Port Royal's Henry Ascento, junior Robbie Spurling and Ocean View course manager Bill Pitt, who filled three out of the next four places on the Order of Merit.

The women's trio consisted of the three top players on the OM -- Judithanne Astwood, who also won last month's women's strokeplay title, Wake Forest college star Kim Marshall and Pat Morgan.

The only mild surprise in either team was the omission of Englishman Tim Carr, who actually pipped Pitt on the OM -- 52 points to 50 -- by virtue of his appearance in the final of the Amateur Match Play Championships at Mid Ocean in March.

However, Brendan (Bees) Ingham, chairman of the BGA selection committee, noted that World Team Championship organisers preferred to have teams made up of citizens of the country they were representing.

"The rules actually state that players chosen should be citizens of that country except where it would be impractical to select such a team,'' explained Ingham. "That clearly wasn't the case here.

However, in the past the BGA have controversially included ex-patriates, namely Tony Readwin in 1994 and Arthur Jones in 1992.

Of those selected this time, Vallis, Ascento, Astwood and Marshall have all represented Bermuda at previous Worlds.

The women's tournament is slated for the St. Elena Golf Club in Manila between November 7 and 10. The men will play at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club from November 14-17.

The Order of Merit standings were: MEN: 1 Robert Vallis 200; 2 Henry Ascento 170; 3 Robbie Spurling 621 ; 4 Tim Carr 52; 5 Bill Pitt 50; 6 Hav Trott 35; 7 Mark Dupuy 30; 8 Blake Marshall 121 WOMEN: 1 Judithanne Astwood 290; 2 Pat Morgan 110; 3 Kim Marshall 105; 4 Madeline Joell 65.

Port Royal's second team wrapped up the Amstel League `A' Division title by securing the maximum 10 points in the penultimate round at Mid Ocean Club on Saturday. The runaway leaders now have an unassailable 55 points, 20 more than second-placed Mid Ocean who leapfrogged over the Bermuda Junior Golf Association team on Saturday.

Mark Dupuy and Tony Readwin both fired 78s to lead the Port Royal team while team-mates Eldon Raynor and Paul Williams were close behind with 79s.

With the final round taking place at Ocean View this Saturday, the battle is now for second spot with Mid Ocean on 35 points, BJGA on 32 and Belmont on 30.

Meanwhile, Ocean View II wrapped up the `B' division title on Saturday taking maximum points in the final round for a 51 point total.

Standings -- see Scoreboard