Children throughout the world will benefit from a golf tournament beginning at the Port Royal Golf Course today.

Corporate Charity Golf Tournament is expected to raise $100,000 for the Children's Medical and Research Foundation in Dublin.

And some of the money raised will also go to help pay for treatment for Bermudian nine-year-old Shalimar Williams who has a rare physical disorder.

The Foundation has huge support all over the world and the former President of Ireland, Dr. Patrick J. Hillery, is in Bermuda to support the event.

Dr. Hillery and his wife, Mary, will meet Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan at a gala banquet at Fourways which ends the tournament tomorrow. Dr. Hillery was president of the Irish Republic between 1976 and 1990.

A total of 32 teams and 128 players, from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Bermuda are competing in the gold tournament today, having paid $5,000 per team.

The Irish contingent contains a trio of famous sporting names from the Emerald Isle, Mr. Eamon Coghlan, Mr. Fergus Slattery and Mr. Eddie Macken. Mr. Coghlan is the only man in history to run a mile under three minutes and fifty seconds indoors. He has broken the world record three times. He also holds the world record for the indoor 2,000 metres.

He turned 40 last year and is the first "masters'' runner to break the four minute mile. He competed in the Olympics in 1976, 1980 and 1988.

A member of the Irish show-jumping team for 24 years, Mr. Eddie Macken has won nearly every Grand Prix event in Europe and is still the only rider to win four Hickstead Derbies.

A captain of Ireland for more than 17 occasions, Mr. Fergus Slattery played for the national team 60 times. He also played for the Barbarians and the British Lions and has appeared twice in Bermuda Easter Classic.

Tournament Organiser Mr. David Grisley said: "We will raise $100,000 to donate to the Medical and Research Foundation which has developed treatments for many sick children and is linked with hospitals all over the globe. Their research really benefits children internationally.

"We will also be donating a cheque to Shalimar Williams to help fund her trips to Boston Children's Hospital. The Premier will present that cheque.'' The Foundation raises money internationally and is supported by major personalities like singer Chris de Burgh, golfers Seve Ballesteros and Ian Woosnam and Scottish soccer star Kenny Dalglish.

A local organising committee decided to start the tournament some years ago.

Mr. Grisley said: "We thought Bermuda would be an ideal place for a charity golf tournament, because of its close proximity to the US, the large international business sector and the great golf courses.

"The Irish sporting stars are top names, it just shows the importance of the Foundation if they can pull in big names like this.'' Local sponsors of the tournament are Gosling Brothers, Crisson Jewellers, Graham Bell and Co., XL Insurance, Powerscourt Group Ltd., RHH (Bermuda), Island Press, Fourways Inn and Deloitte and Touche.

CRYSTAL TROPHY -- The Waterford Crystal Decanter which will be presented to winners of the charity golf tournament tomorrow. Holding the decanter are, from left: world famous show jumper Mr. Eddie Macken, tournament organiser Mr.

David Grisley and paediatric consultant at the Children's Medical and Research Foundation, in Dublin, Dr. Jerry Kellegher.