Despite suffering slight affects from a ripped muscle in his arm, Kent Wagner brushed aside his rivals to win the eighth annual Bermuda Professional Bowling Association South Classic at Warwick Lanes yesterday.

It marked the second year in a row that the American from Palmetto, Florida, has captured the honour and first prize of $4,000.

With the top local finisher of the all-male tournament, Mike McCallum, just failing to reach the final qualifying stages that featured the best 12 players in the tournament, 11 Americans were left to run away with the prizes.

Wagner saved his best game for last when he crushed Richard Church by a convincing margin of 267 to 191.

Church of Lakeland, Florida came away with $2,300 prize for second place. Jeff Schrumm of Cherryville, North Carolina, was third and collected $1,900 while John May of Lincolnton, North Carolina placed fourth and received $1,700.

Although he was somewhat handicapped going into the tournament, Wagner still managed to improve on his showing of a year ago by finishing with an average of 235 this time compared to the 209 of last year.

"I bowled very good, in fact everybody bowled well because there were a lot of high scores throughout," he said.

"The lanes here are fine, I really love them, they are perfect for me. It was a lot easier this year for some unknown reason,'' said Wagner.

"My form was okay going into the tournament. But I have a ripped muscle on my elbow and have to get it operated on in May. It's been hurting a lot but I still managed to get by for some reason.''

Wagner had no difficulty in his head-on clash against Church in the final which was the first match-up the two had ever encountered in a final.

To get to the final Church had to play third placed Schrumm and won that game by a 233 to 167 margin, but Church was to later find Wagner.

Marge Correia, president of the Bermuda Bowling Club, said that the tournament was a huge success and she commended the large number of Americans attracted to it.

She reckoned that the visiting number of players from the US could have been greater if many of them had not missed their flights.

"I was very pleased with the turnout.

I must admit that there could have been more locals among the 59 entries but the 44 Americans represented the biggest number we have had from there,'' said the president.

"The funds have a lot to do with it and if we can continue to get the prize funds then the better it will become.

"If there is anybody out there who has more cash to add to the tournament then we will be happy to take it.''