Last year Kiersten Allbright made history in the Goodwill Tournament and now women are descending on the event.

Three American golf clubs in Massachusetts have each opted for a female pro to partner their three amateurs respectively in the upcoming competition being held here from December 8 to 12.

Lyn Valentine will represent Bedrock Golf and Country Club while Joann Walker heads the Dedham Country and Polo Club team and Rebecca Hayes will play for The Country Club.

However, Allbright ? who headed the foursome from Quechee Club in Vermont in 2002 ? will not be back this year as she is currently on tour.

Tournament organiser Alex Madeiros says 95 teams have entered the 51st edition of the Goodwill which is a 72-hole, three-quarter handicap, best-ball showdown. This year it will unfold across four of Bermuda?s top courses: Belmont Hills, Tucker?s Point, Mid Ocean and Port Royal.

?Slowly but surely we?re reaching our goal of getting a hundred teams but it takes time. We have 12 new teams ? all from overseas ? so that?s great.

?We are reaching out with our website. We?ve had enquiries from Egypt and we?re hoping to get a team from Italy again next year.

?It?s just a matter of time before teams start coming from these countries,? noted Madeiros, adding that eight or nine local teams will compete against rivals from Scotland, Canada and the USA.

Holding the Goodwill this year is in itself an accomplishment, he pointed out, given damage to golf courses and hotels during Hurricane Fabian on September 5.

?Some of the holes may be a little bit easier where some of the longer hitters might be able to shave off a few yards but personnel at all the courses have done a fantastic job in getting them back into shape.

?They need to be commended. They put a lot of time and effort into trying to get their golf courses back up and running. It?s not just for the Goodwill but obviously it assists us in being able to attract these teams back.

?And of course we have to thank the hotels. We were very close to cancelling but the hotels have pulled through to provide accommodations and Fairmont Hamilton has taken over from Fairmont Southampton in letting us have our final banquet there.?

Beyond the tournament proper, PriceWaterhouseCoopers will sponsor a junior clinic next Saturday hosted by master PGA pros and local pros. There will also be a performance by trick-shot artiste Peter Longo.

On the Sunday, there will be a par-three challenge for tournament participants at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.