shot victory in yesterday's Lobster Pot professional championships at Castle Harbour.

Acton, from the Sahalee Country Club in Redmond, was the only player in the 31-strong field to fire under par, carding four birdies against one bogey on his way to a three-under 68.

Winner of this same event in 1993, Acton completed a bogey-free front nine in 34 with birdies at the par five fourth and par five eighth.

He then birdied 10 and 16 before recording his only bogey at the tough par three 18th for an identical back nine score of 34.

Another former winner Tim Conley, from the Rosemont Country Club in Akron, Ohio, trailed Acton by two at the turn and eventually finished three shots back after carding an even par 71 for second place.

Three players tied for third on 72 -- Mark Evenson of the Rolling Road Golf Club in Catonsville, Maryland, Wheeler Stewart from the Oakland Golf Club in Maryland, and D.J. Holland from Tampa, Florida's Avila Golf and Country Club.

Defending champion Kirk Hanefeld, from Salem Country Club, could manage only a 78 after a disastrous front nine of 41, leaving him in a tie for tenth place.

With this year's total purse upped to $10,000, Acton took a winner's share of $1,750 while Conley collected $1,200. The three pros tied for third all won $800.

Senior division winner Ed Whalley, from Meadow Brook GC, who fired 77, picked up a cheque for $400.

Today sees the final round in the Lobster Pot Pro-Am with D.J. Holland's Oakland team holding a commanding seven shot lead over Conley's Rosemont in the net division.

Victory in Wednesday's Charity Pro-Am, which saw local amateurs team up with the overseas pros, went to the team of Paul Parajeckas, Bruce Wilkie, William Baum and Gary Clark, who carded a 15-under-par 127.

Gross winners on 139 were Rick Acton, Peter Tucker, John Swift and Bill Lusher.

RICK ACTON -- Second victory in three years