Professional Frank Ferguson and his Montgomery Country Club team from Laytonsville, Maryland, strengthened their grip on the net division of the annual Goodwill Tournament at Tucker's Point yesterday.

The quartet of Ferguson, Alan Hedlund, Harry Leavy and Albert Feinberg will head into the final round at Mid Ocean Club today carrying a healthy six-shot lead.

Following net rounds of 60 at Port Royal and 52 at Belmont Hills, the Montgomery team carded 61 at Tucker's Point yesterday for a three-round total of 173 - a whopping 38 under par.

Their closest rivals are Avila Golf Club from Florida, led by regular Bermuda visitor Tim Conley.

Avila stand on 179 (33 under par) after shooting 63 at Port Royal yesterday while third place is held by the Country Club of Orange Park headed by senior pro Bob Duval, the father of PGA Tour star David Duval.

Hardly surprisingly, it's both Conley and Duval who lead the individual professional competition which is being played on the stableford format.

Conley is practically home and dry in the junior division with a points total of 70 - 17 more than his closest rival, Ron Philo of the Country Club of Vermont.

Duval holds a seven-point lead in the senior division with 58, his closest rival being another regular visitor to Bermuda, Ed Whalley of the Meadow Brook GC who has 51 points.

In the team gross standings, Avila (190) hold a slim two-shot lead over Orange Park (192) with The National Golf Club in third place on 194.

The championships, which has attracted more than 90 teams, winds up today.

Yesterday's full scores and standings, see Scoreboard.