NO DISRESPECT to winner Robbie Spurling and those who finished below him in last weekend's Amateur Strokeplay Championships, but on that showing there is work to be done before Bermuda's team fly out for September's World Amateur Championships in Berlin.

Spurling will be joined by previous two-time Amateur champion Michael Sims, Tim Carr and Nick Mansell in the squad heading for Germany, as the team was chosen from the top four finishers over the weekend, all of whom were eligible for selection because of their Order of Merit standing.

But while 21-year-old Spurling set up his triumph with an impressive two-under-par 69 on the third day, alas that was the only sub-par round of the entire tournament.

And that on a fairly benign Port Royal where mild weather conditions throughout the 72 holes never allowed the course to bear its teeth.

The par-71 Southampton track might be one of Bermuda's most challenging, but no moreso than the course that will greet our team in Berlin where scores in the mid-70s will make little impact.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this year's Amateur was the lack of drama, particularly on the final day when Spurling waltzed to a five-shot victory despite a less than impressive 77.

Sims's 74 was the best of the day but too little too late following his disastrous 81 on day one. And Carr and Mansell could do nothing to close the gap, each carding 78s.

Spurling's total of 295 (74-75-69-77) amounted to 11-over-par which must be one of the highest winning totals in recent memory.

As the youngster would admit later: "I feel real lucky. I lost my composure a lot coming home and didn't play well at all. I was lucky to hang in there.

"I was maybe a bit too conservative. I started hitting a few bad shots and then I started trying to get conservative and it only gets worse from there if you're not confident, and I started to lose a bit of confidence.'' Despite those last round jitters, the good news for Bermuda is that all four in the Worlds squad have shown on past performances they have the ability to improve.

Spurling intends to play much more now that he has graduated from college and Sims will benefit from experience garnered on his Rhode Island University squad and during his last appearance at the world championships two years ago.

"Looking back I guess what really cost me was that first round because I played good from there on in,'' noted the defending champion.

"But what can you do about an 81? "I'm really looking forward to the Worlds. This would be my second time if I go. I have some experience with the first one and I'll feel a little more comfortable out there, and hopefully I'll be able to play a little bit better than what I did in the first round out here.'' Maybe the best news to come out of this year's Amateur was the fact that so many Bermuda Junior Golf Association graduates finished high up on the leaderboard.

Spurling is a product of the BJGA as is Sims, Mansell, Chris Brough (tied for fifth), Eric West (seventh) and Aaron James (tied for 10th).

In the women's event, won for the second time by Alisa Hardy (241 over 54 holes), six out of the top seven were either current or former BJGA members.

Hardy stormed back to win with a final day 76 despite opening rounds of 80 and 85 as early pace-setter Jennifer Spurling ballooned to an 87 and her nearest rivals Lindsey Sims and Stephanie Lewis both carded 82.

Spurling had to settle for second on 244 followed by Sims and Lewis (both 245) with Match Play champion Laura Robinson fifth on 253. Another BJGA player, Ebonie Burgess, tied for seventh on 273.

The success of the juniors, not surprisingly, was highlighted when the BJGA held its annual awards ceremony on Sunday at Riddell's Bay where guest of honour, MP Nelson Bascome, himself an avid golfer, paid tribute to the youngsters.

Several of those in the programme will be travelling abroad for competition this summer, on both sides of the Atlantic. More on that in next week's column.