Fraser Hunt and Ebonie Burgess kept Bermuda's pride in junior golf intact, defending their respective titles yesterday in the face of a robust Canadian challenge in the Atlantic International Junior Championships.

Hunt produced a strong three-under-par 67 at Riddell's Bay to retain the Boys' 18-21 division with a three-round total of four-under-par 208. His nearest rival and fellow Bermudian, Eric West, finished second on 218 after carding 71 in his final round. Canadian Wes Juszku was third on 225.

For Hunt, one of the Island's leading juniors in recent years, this victory must have been sweet redemption for his bitter loss in the inaugural Bank of Bermuda Foundation International Junior Championship over Easter. On that occasion - as in this tournament - he seemed a certain winner, only to be thwarted by an instance of carelessness. Enjoying a two-shot lead, he mistakenly hit the wrong ball on the last hole and received a two-stroke penalty which forced him into a three-way play-off which he lost.

This time, the calm teen made no mistake as he wrested the title again.

"It's nice to string three good rounds together. I was happy with the way it went. I played well and was solid all around. I made some good saves when I got in trouble and didn't have any big numbers," he said afterwards.

The 18-year-old had carded 71 and 70 on the par-71 Port Royal course where the tournament's first two rounds were played earlier this week. He said it was the first time he could remember scores being under par for the total in all the years he has played in this tournament.

"I think there's more depth than in the past and it's nice to defend among some good players," added Hunt, who enrols at the University of Richmond next month.

Burgess, too, held her nerve to claim back-to-back championships in the Girls' Open division. Some may have expected her to wilt into oblivion after squandering a massive 12-shot lead from the first round with a disastrous second-round effort of 87 - but that was not the case.

Entering yesterday's final round just a shot ahead of Canadian Holly Goncalves, the Bermudian shot a six-over 76 to hold off her challenger with a total of 237 to 241. The visitor shot nine-over 79 yesterday. Another Canadian Claudine Foong was third on 251.

"I wasn't nervous but it was rough. I just wanted to do my best and keep it (her score) low. It could have been much better. I went into the ninth hole at one-under but I got a double bogey there and three more on the 12th, 13th and 17th holes. I got a birdie at the 15th.

"Holly had a two-stroke penalty for an incorrect drop and that made it a bit easier for me to defend my title," said 16-year-old Burgess who is headed for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida, USA, next semester.

Canadian Alvin Yeung capitalised on his awesome six-under 65 in the second round at Port Royal to run away with the Boys' 15-17 division championship. He carded a two-over 72 yesterday to total a four-under 208 for the tournament. Bermudian Sergio Edness was a distant second on 225 (72 yesterday) while another local player, Jason Darrell, was third with 227 (73 yesterday).

"It feel really good. I was confident and I played well here. I adapted well and my putting was good even though the greens here are slower than the ones in Toronto," said 17-year-old Yeung who was surprised to tie Port Royal's course record with his 65.

Canada also took the Boys' 13-14 title, thanks to Steve Lee who shot 227. Bermudian Andrew Osborne prevented a Maple-Leaf one-two in that division, totalling 228 to Saber Kanwar's 233.

Yeung's unrelated namesake and compatriot, Humphrey Yeung, took the Boys' 12 & Under division, carding 230. Bermudians Jeffrey Oughton and Nick Jones were second and third respectively on 240 and 242.