on the men's side of the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships, Lindsey Sims has eyes on notching her second women's title.

Today sees the females take to the challenging lay-out at Port Royal, with Sims standing as the favourite coming of last year's 12-shot romp and a solid freshman season playing with the women's team at the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

Though not nearly as outwardly intense or passionate as her older sibling, Lindsey has a clear goal of winning, but an even bigger mission of having fun.

"There's always that chance that I'll win and I'd like to do it again,'' said Sims, relaxing after a practice round. "I'm just going to go out there and play my own game and see what happens. I'm hitting the ball pretty good right now and feel good about myself.

"As long as I keep my drives down the middle, play well around the greens with my chipping and make key putts...if I can do that all week I'll score well.

"Also, I've been practising a lot on my short game, trying to get more consistent with every shot I hit.'' Challenges can be expected from the likes of 1998 winner Alisa Hardy, as well as reigning match play champion Laura Robinson and Ebonie Burgess, the reigning Ocean View champion. And not the least is Jennifer Spurling, another college student of championship calibre.

Yet Sims refuses to concern herself with her rivals, preferring to focus on her own game and the course.

"The main thing is consistency over the three days,'' said the 19-year-old, who averaged 76 during the Fall term at school and 78 for the Spring. "I'm just going to see what happens, keep playing my game and not worry about everybody else.

"The course is playing really nice. The front nine is doing a lot better with all the water that's been put out on it. It's definitely improved it a lot.'' A total of 15 women are registered to take part in the 54-hole event.

Last year saw Lindsey and Michael become the first brother and sister pair to win the Strokeplay Championships, something which further emphasised the outstanding young talent sweeping through the local game.