at Port Royal yesterday to clinch the Lobster Pot Pro-Am crown.

Hever Golf Club, from England, had started the final day of the 54-hole team tournament leading by five shots and at the turn, they had extended their lead to seven.

But the Avila team played sizzling golf to play the back nine in 10 under-par, as the Hever foursome choked.

And the winners, from Florida, rounded off their round of 129 in style, with amateur George Brown sinking a stunning, 35-feet birdie putt on the 18th green.

Brown, playing for the 13th successive year in the Lobster Pot Pro-Am, said: "That was the best putt of my life and a great way to end the week. I'm surprised, we did not really think we had a team to win the tournament.'' Avila were led by professional Bob Cornett, who placed fifth in the professional tournament on Thursday, backed up by Brown, Allen Reeves and Englishman Derek Barrett.

"It was a team effort, everyone chipped in,'' said Cornett. "And we'll definitely be back next year.'' Avila found their form as the week went on, opening with a 139 on the hailstorm-ravaged Monday, followed up by a 135 on the Tuesday, which left them in second place. Yesterday's 13-under-par effort was the equal best score of the tournament.

Hever fell away so badly that they finished up in fourth place on a 54-hole total of 408, five strokes behind the winners.

The English club's bitterly disappointed professional Richard Tinworth admitted: "We blew it.'' And he laid the blame for their capitulation at the feet of his three amateur team-mates, his father Murray Tinworth, Barry Harding and Robbie Lincoln.

"They just fell to pieces,'' said Richard Tinworth. "We were doing fine, five under at the turn, but then it all went wrong.

"I was OK, I made a birdie and a bogey, but the others were all over the place. And it's not like these guys, they've won tournaments before.

"Maybe they were a bit nervous. They all tried their best. But fourth place is not bad for our first year here and we'll be back to try again next year.'' The Country Club of York made a last-day comeback with an 11-under-par 131 to claim second place.

The foursome was led by Mark Alwin, a three-time winner of the Lobster Pot Professional Championship, and also included tournament sponsor and restauranteur Fritz Reiter.

York finished on 406, three strokes behind Avila, and were placed well to win the title before dropping five shots over the last three holes.

Alwin said: "We all misjudged the clubs on the 16th and then I took three from the front edge of the green on the 17th.'' Alwin, who tasted victory in the team Pro-Am in 1990, as well as his successive victories in the professional tournament between 1984 and 1986, was more than anything, glad to be back.

"My last time here was 1990 and I've been missing for nine years because I've been busy in Florida. Bermuda feels like home to me, the people are wonderful and I'm just happy to be here again,'' said Alwin.

Tallwood Country Club finished on 408, a stroke behind York, to take third place. Pro John Nowobilski and amateurs Brad Faxon Snr., Tom Dolan and Tom Stearns made up the Tallwood team.

Fifth place Salem Country Club I finished seven strokes behind Hever.

Recovery team: Avila Golf Club competitors (from left to right) Bob Cornett, Derek Barrett, Allen Reeves and George Brown celebrate their Lobster Pot win.