the Bermuda Open, just two weeks away.

So far 38 professionals (30 from overseas and eight local) and 39 amateurs (24 from overseas and 15 local) have signed up, including six former champions.

American Andrew Pitts, winner for the last two years, will be aiming for an unprecedented hat-trick but again faces the two men who he defeated in sudden-death play-off last year -- Darrell Kostner and P.J.Cowan, both regulars on the Nike Tour.

Other US pros entered include 1995 winner Mike Donald and 1990 champion Tim Balmer, regular Island visitors Tom Jaeger and Bill Britton along with Paul Jaycox, Monte Chittum and Alan Pate.

Craig Marseille and Rick Sovereign will fly in from Canada, Graeme Oliver from Scotland and Chris Van der Velde from Holland.

Of the local pros already entered, Dwayne Pearman won in 1988, Eardley Jones in 1981 and Frankie Rabain in 1977, and there's also Duncan Zelkin, a former Amateur Strokeplay champion who recently joined the professional ranks.

A formidable amateur field will see the return of Jon Marks, who performed well in last year's British Senior Championships, and from the US players from as far away as Los Angeles, Colorado, Ohio and Texas.

Local amateurs include Blake Marshall and Henry Ascento who will be hoping to use the event as a useful warm-up for next month's World Amateur Team Championships in Santiago, Chile, as well as Robert Vallis, Mark Dupuy, Nick Mansell and Bill Pitt.

The 72-hole tournament, at a much-improved Port Royal, is scheduled for October 15-18, and Bermuda Golf Association have extended the entry deadline until this Sunday at 6.00 p.m. Players can deliver their completed forms to the BGA office, but should also call secretary Tom Smith (238-1367) beforehand.

ANDREW PITTS -- aiming to win the Open for a third successive year.