to slip from second to ninth overall in the New England Open in Vermont last week.

The Ocean View professional was one stroke behind eventual winner Jeff Fisk going into the last day, after rounds of two-under and three-under par put him in contention at five-under going into the third and final day.

But Pearman, the Island's top pro, could only manage a five-over-par last round after bogeys on 13, 14, 17 and 18, two of which were par fives. He finished on even par in a field of some 170 players.

"I'm a little disappointed, I was mentally tired and had some mental lapses,'' said Pearman, who still pocketed a cheque for $1,350.

"I was five-over par but a lot of guys shot even par or under,'' added Pearman who played in the lead group in the final round. The tournament contained several Nike Tour players.

"I wasn't nervous or anything. I played pretty steady on the front nine when I was one-over. After nine (holes) I was two strokes behind but on the back nine I got a little sloppy.'' The tournament served as a warm-up for the World Cup qualifier in Jamaica next week when Pearman and Kim Swan will represent Bermuda.

Pearman easily won the Bermuda PGA championship earlier this summer but Swan earned revenge with a close victory in the PGA match-play final last month.

The pair also represented in last year's World Cup qualifier and barely missed making it into the main tournament.

"It's been kind of hard to work on my short game because the putting green at Ocean View has been out for about five months,'' said Pearman. "I'm hitting the ball okay but I'm not as confident with my short game.

"If my short game is good then the rest of my game is no problem. You can only hit the ball so good and the rest is up to your short game. When I'm practising my short game regularly then the rest of my game is easy.'' DWAYNE PEARMAN