to regain his amateur status.

The former Bermuda amateur champion confirmed yesterday that he wrote to the Bermuda Golf Association about a month ago stating his wish to return to amateur status.

Mayne, 33, has been a professional just over a year and played in three tournaments as a pro, the Bermuda Open last year, the Belmont Invitational and the BPGA Stroke Play Championship in January, which was his last tournament.

"I'm not playing at all now,'' Mayne disclosed. "I've played about three rounds of golf all year since the tournament in January. I think I'll best serve my time as an amateur because I can't compete as a pro with the golf I'm playing.'' Mayne is one of the past champions (1986) who will be missing from next week's Belmont Invitational. And there will be many other major local tournaments that he will sit out while he serves his qualification period.

"I won't be playing any tournaments for quite a while,'' he said. "One of the stipulations when you re-apply for amateur status is you're not allowed to play in tournaments until amateur status is given back to you.'' "I've sent a letter in to the BGA and the procedure is if a pro wants his amateur status back he has to apply in writing,'' said Mayne. "I haven't heard anything and I assume it could be a couple of years.

BGA secretary Tom Smith confirmed that Mayne faces about a two-year wait while he qualifies to regain his amateur status, according to rule 6, paragraph 3b of the BGA constitution, which reads: "No applicant shall normally be eligible for reinstatement until he has conducted himself in accordance with the definition of an amateur golfer for a period of at least two consecutive years.'' Rule 2, paragraph 3c states that "a player shall not normally be reinstated more than once.'' According to Smith, Mayne can play in club tournaments.

Players applying to be reinstated as amateurs is not a rare occurrence with Max Atherden and Bobby McRonald being two who have given up their professional cards in the past.

Mayne, no doubt encouraged by the success he enjoyed as an amateur, decided to try to cash in financially as a professional.

"I did it strictly for the money but I really don't see myself winning with the amount of golf I'm playing,'' he explained.

"I felt uncomfortable playing as a pro. I've played golf all my life because I loved the game. If I'm going to be a pro I want to be the best player I could be and I don't feel I could perform to the level my mind is saying a pro should perform at.

"I feel a pro should play pretty good golf and the time I was putting in wouldn't allow me to play at a good level. As an amateur I would accept a lower level for myself.'' Mayne is married with two young children and that, he said, combined with his involvement in the family business, has taken priority.

"I don't regret doing it (applying for pro status) but I really don't think I'm going to play much tournament golf because the golfing pleasure is gone.

"If I play one or two tournaments a year I'll be happy with that. There was a point in time when I was practising every day but I don't have any ambitions to go back to that at this stage.

"After I get my amateur status back I'll see where I am and go from there. I just don't have any foresight as to what I might do or might not do.'' SCOTT MAYNE -- `I felt uncomfortable playing as a pro.'