Janice Symonds has had her dreams of qualifying for the 49th US Women's Open championships next month dashed by a knee injury.

The 33-year old St. George's professional -- the island's only female pro -- disclosed to The Royal Gazette yesterday that she has made the difficult decision to abandon her plans to participate in a qualifying round in Florida because of a knee injury she suffered seven weeks ago.

Symonds had been eagerly awaiting her the July 7 qualifying round, getting in plenty of golf as well as walking and doing some fitness work with trainer Nick Jones in the last few weeks. She was stretching in preparation for a round of golf at Port Royal when the old injury resurfaced.

"The same thing happened four years ago,'' she explained yesterday. "But after that first time it hasn't bothered me since.'' There is an inflammation of the knee and two months of intensive therapy will be required to strengthen the quadricep muscle. With just a month before the qualifying round at the Grenelefe Resort in Haines City, Florida -- one of 10 qualifying venues -- Symonds made the decision to put her health first after talking with a specialist.

"Because the leg is so weak we decided we should rest it and concentrate on strengthening the knee itself,'' Symonds explained. "The knee is very vulnerable and it could happen again.

"Two weeks ago I made the decision (to withdraw) and I also contacted the US Women's Golf Association to let them know. I feel I made the right decision, even though it hurts.'' Now Symonds is all the more determined to participate in the 1995 qualifying event, though she cannot afford to look much further ahead than the two months of therapy.

"I'll be doing four different exercises three times a day for two months,'' she disclosed. "My immediate plans are to strengthen the knee and look forward to next year. At least I'll have more time.

"These things happen for a reason. It just wasn't my time to go, that's how I have to look at it.

"It would have meant four days of walking and I can't handle that right now.

I can barely stand for very long.'' This would have been Symonds' first major venture overseas since becoming a pro eight years ago.

About 107 spots will be up for grabs during the qualifying with 147 players advancing to participate in the championships between July 21-24 at the Indianwood Golf and Country Club in Lake Orion, Detroit.

There is $850,000 in prize money for the top 60 finishers who survive the cut after 36 holes. Laurie Merten is the defending champion.

Two of the Island's top golfers will be missing when the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships tee off at Port Royal in just over a week's time.

Neither Scott Mayne, who won the Amateur Match Play title in March, nor Robert Vallis, a former strokeplay champion, will be in the field.

Work commitments have reportedly prevented both players from entering.

However, among those expected to be in contention are defending champion 20-year-old Duncan Zelkin, who has returned from his studies at Jacksonville State University, American Jeff Kiley, a previous winner, and policeman Tim Carr who was beaten by Zelkin on the first hole of sudden death last year.

Defending women's champion Kim Marshall will also be back from studies at Wake Forest in North Carolina, and is likely to face her stiffest challenge from Judithanne Outerbridge and Madeline Joell.

The 72-hole men's tournament runs from June 17-20 while the women's 54-hole event is from June 18-20.

Bermuda Golf Association secretary Tom Smith confirmed yesterday that the maximum field had been reached for both championships, and no further entries would be accepted.