yesterday's third round of the Bermuda PGA Championship.

But the rest of the 16-player field didn't fare much better in gusting winds as Pearman extended his lead to a whopping 12 strokes over Eardley Jones heading into today's final round at Port Royal.

Pearman, who opened the $5,000 tournament with rounds of 69 and 72, entered yesterday with a ten-stroke advantage over Jones and 15 over Lloyd James. But Jones could do no better than a 78 -- for a 56-hole total of 229 -- and James 80, throwing the race for second and third-place money wide open.

Best round of the day belonged to Frank Rabain, who, as Port Royal, knows a thing or two of tackling Port Royal's vaunted winds. Rabain fired a two-over par 73 to move into a tie with Kim Swan for third spot, two shots behind Jones.

Keith Smith sits fourth at 233 following his 77 yesterday.

Pearman is the defending champion, having won last year's tournament at Mid Ocean Club by a record 26 strokes.

The 1997 edition of the Governor's Cup was held on Sunday at Mid Ocean with Ocean View winning the annual match by 28 points, 198 to 166.

The event, which started in 1967, was also won last year by Ocean View and they will host the 1998 event, between October and November.

Each team in this year's competition included 37 players.

STRAIGHT SHOOTER -- Dwayne Pearman and the rest of the field struggled in the third round of the Bermuda PGA Championship at Port Royal yesterday. But Pearman still extended his lead to 12 shots.