Make way Tiger, here comes Dwayne! Okay, so Bermuda's Dwayne Pearman may not be the same prodigy as Tiger Woods.

But as much as Woods has become a dominating force on the PGA tour, so has Pearman taken over local scene.

Yesterday only saw the Ocean View club pro fire a two-under 69, extending his lead after three rounds of the $4,200 IAS Bermuda Professional Golf Championship to -- get this -- 20 strokes.

And yet Pearman somehow managed to keep a straight face while saying that there remained a possibility he might not be the one stepping into the winners circle after today's final round at the Mid Ocean Club.

"It's not over 'til it's over; anything can happen in golf,'' he said. "I could go out there and have a mental lapse like anybody else can, it ain't over until you're walking down the 18th fairway. Then you can feel like it's over.'' Pearman's first words were that he struggled, making one wonder what might have happened if he really played well.

"I struggled coming in, but the first 13 holes were pretty solid and I don't know if I got tired or what, the last few were a little struggle, but I got in all right,'' he said.

As he was on the first day, Pearman was the only golfer to break par on the lavish 6,512-yard course.

Playing alongside Mid Ocean assistant club pro Steven DeCosta and Frankie Rabain of Port Royal, Pearman was clearly a cut above. He rolled through the front nine with a two-under 33, notching birdies at the second, sixth and seventh holes, while suffering a bogey on the ninth.

By comparison, DeCosta, who ended the day with a 74 that allowed him to move from third to second at 229, incurred a brutal beginning, bogeying four of the first eight holes -- one, two, five and eight -- and making the turn at four over.

Pearman levelled off over the second half, going through in even par 36, while DeCosta, despite finding the left side brush at the tenth and taking a drop, flourished with a one under.

"I didn't get off to a good start and could have done better, but Dwayne's playing well and probably deserves to win,'' said DeCosta, who all but conceded the title to Pearman.

"That certainly seems to be the case, and unless I can accidentally on purpose make a mistake and trip him going down the fairway, it looks like he's pretty much got it wrapped up.

"I look forward to the competition with Dwayne and hopefully in the future -- he shouldn't have a problem tomorrow, obviously -- I hope to be a little more competitive with him.'' Hope or luck is the last thing Pearman needs.

"I just want to keep plugging tomorrow and hopefully the outcome will be all right,'' he said.

Suffering the biggest fall yesterday was veteran Eardley Jones, who ballooned to an 84 to drop four places from second to sixth at 238.

Kim Swan, while not at his best, carded a 79 that allowed him to take sole possession of third on 234.

BATTLING FOR SECOND -- Steven DeCosta fired a 74 yesterday to take over second place behind Dwayne Pearman at the IAS BPGA Championship at the Mid Ocean Club. Final round is today.