shocking world golf champion Tiger Woods and taking the first 18 holes of the championship.

In only the first round of the Orbis World Bridge Championships, Bermuda's ladies -- competing for the first time in the contest -- beat the team fancied by many to win the three-week event.

On Saturday night, the four-member Venice Cup team of Judy Bussell, Stephanie Kyme, Audrey Smith and Diana Diel -- were 16 to 14 winners over the Netherlands.

Ladies captain David Schroeder said the success would help give the team confidence to aim for the final eight of the tournament at the Southampton Princess.

Bermudians stun Dutch Bermuda Bridge Federation marketing director Edna Clay said the win over the Dutch was a huge shock in the world of competition bridge.

"It was a real cliffhanger match,'' she said. "Teams from Europe are incredibly strong and the Netherlands are one of the strongest, they are expected to go far.'' Bermuda Bowl mens' captain Kevin Comeau also won a moral victory, as the men were enarrowly defeated by the powerful Italian team in the second contest being held simultaneously.

"We put on an extremely good show against Italy; they have won the event 13 times -- only the US have won this tournament more often,'' he said.

And the successes of the Bermudian players should be considered even greater, when compared with their opponents -- many of whom are professional bridge players and are cosseted between games by coaches and physiotherapists.

Last night, Poland was leading the Bermuda Bowl contest and Bermuda's mens team was in last position. Bermuda's Venice Cup ladies team was in 17th place and in first place was Denmark.

The hit squad: Members of the victorious Bermuda Venice Cup ladies bridge team who beat favourites Holland. From left: Audrey Smith, Margie Way, Diana Diel, team captain David Schroeder, Judy Bussell, Stephanie Kyme and Jean Johnson.