Reigning Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play champion Daniel Augustus has been touted as a potential "world beater" by one of the game's pioneering players.

Lee Elder, the first black golfer to play in the Masters and be included in a US Ryder Cup team, believes the Bermudian has more than what it takes to compete in the sport at the highest level.

"There's no doubt in my mind that Daniel has the potential to be one of the top players. I tutored Paine College's golf team after he had left but I heard all about him through Hoover Johnson who is the golf coach at Paine and Dr.Bradley (Dr.George Bradley) who is the president of Paine College," Elder told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"I have talked to several golfers that played against Daniel from Benedict College and South Carolina State and they said he can be a world beater, and I believe that. Just from the extent of all the buzz he has created around Augusta, Georgia and all the different golf colleges, he is certainly the one person who I think can revolutionise the game of golf as far as minorities are concerned."

Earlier this month the 22-year old Augustus captured a bronze medal at the Island Games in Aland and next week he is due to tee off at the US Amateur Qualifier in Virginia.

Responding to Elder's comments, the promising golfer said: "It was nothing short of awesome for someone of his calibre, that helped set the pace for people like Tiger Woods, to think that highly of me.

"Mr.Elder helped set the pace for everybody of colour on Tour (USPGA) and if it wasn't for him there would be no Tiger Woods or VJ Singh and I'm just honoured to have someone so highly regarded say such encouraging words to me."

As for his form ahead of his next overseas assignment, Augustus said: "I feel pretty good and I'm actually rolling the ball along nicely which is always a plus for me because this is a part of my game I always feel I can improve on. All I need to do now is keep hitting the ball solidly and consistenly."

Elder, who lost to the legendary Jack Nicholas in a play-off for the American Golf Classic title in 1968, was on hand at Ocean View Golf Club yesterday to pass on pointers to Bermuda Junior Golf Association (BJGA) members who were receptive to the lessons being taught.

"I was very impressed with quite a few of the young golfers. I think they all have potential but it all depends on how much willingness they have to work to develop that talent," said Elder.

Also present to assist at the mini-clinic was BJGA president Quinton Sherlock jr and To-A-Tee executive director Alex Madeiros who has fond memories of watching Elder break down racial barriers in the sport.

"I think this was a wonderful opportunity for our junior golfers to be in the presence of and receive a few pointers from Mr. Elder. They got the opportunity to get close and personal with a living legend in golf who has really opened a lot of doors for golfers worldwide," Sherlock said.

"The smiles on the junior golfers faces and eagerness and intent shown when Mr.Elder was giving them instruction will go a long way towards helping to improve their golf game. And hopefully today's activity will serve as an inspiration for them to continue to want to strive and achieve."

Earlier this week Elder was on hand for the official re-opening of the 6,842 yard, par-71 Robert Trent-Jones-designed Port Royal Golf Course that will host this year's PGA Grand Slam of Golf. And the former pro, who turned 75 earlier this month, was impressed by what he saw.

"The beauty of Port Royal is just tremendous and I think it's certainly going to be one of the true golf courses you are going to hear about all around the world, not only because of its beauty, but also because of its toughness," he said. "There's no doubt that it's championship calibre."

n Michael Sims has missed the cut at the Cox Classic in Omaha yesterday.

A second round level par 71 saw the Bermudian finish one-under par for the first two rounds of the Nationwide Tour event, three strokes shy of sticking around for the weekend.

Sims had three birdies and three bogeys yesterday, with the highlight of his brief stay in New England an eagle at the par-four ninth in his first round on Thursday.