States, Canada, Scotland and Italy flock to the Island for the annual Goodwill Golf Tournament.

Now in its 43rd year, the competition will this year boast 101 teams of four, each having a single professional along with three amateur team members.

Returning to attempt a defence of the crown they won in 1994 are Long Cove Club, hailing from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

A year ago witnessed Cove, armed with team leader Bob Patton along with Dave Myers, Bob Parlanti and Rich Covelli, save the best for last as they sparkled on the final day to pull out a one stroke victory in the net division ahead of St. Louis Country Club of Missouri.

The Cove foursome headed into that final outing a single shot adrift of Lago Mar Golf and Country Club of Florida, but a tournament best net 58 at Port Royal gave them a winning four day total of 238.

All four members are set to link up again for what they hope will remain a winning formula.

Such nerve tingling excitement to decide a winner could be hard to duplicate, but tournament organiser Muriel Parker was yesterday optimistic that this year's event would come close.

"I don't know, but if they play some good golf then there will be some excitement I assure you,'' said Parker, enduring a hectic day while being deluged by teams seeking to register. "If the weather stays good it'll be a super tournament...I'm looking for sunshine.'' Of the local clubs Riddell's Bay provided something of a shocker in being the best last year while led by club professional Darren Swan with amateurs Michael Moniz, Norman Wilson and Tom Wilding.

That quartet used steady play all week, with their worst round a not so shabby 63 at Port Royal, to sneak up the leaderboard.

This time however they will not have the luxury of being overlooked and taken for granted. Swan this year teams up with amateurs Conor Ryan, George Smith and Howard DeSilva.

Additional Bermuda outfits will be provided by Belmont Golf and Country Club, spearheaded by Cornell Bean and accompanied by Cisco Gordyk, William DeSilva Jr., and Bruce Fenton; Castle Harbour Golf Club, which has Kevin Benevides, Vincent Bridgewater and Fritz Reiter; Mid Ocean Club with Keith Pearman, Robert Vallis, Michael Dunkley and Richard Cox; Ocean View with Alex Madeiros, Bill Pitt Jr., Dennis Samuels and Calvin Smith; Port Royal with Frankie Rabain, David Ezekiel, Thomas Schwarzman and Francis Mussenden; Southampton Princess with Allan Wilkinson, Philip James, Raymond DeSilva and Calix Todd; and St. George's Golf Club with Kim Swan, Mike Brengle, Stanley Oliver and Paul Spring.

Parker was asked yesterday what was it about the tournament that had created such a long standing love affair among the foreign clubs.

"I think it's the organisation and I think it is also the Bermuda people that make the tournament,'' she replied. "It's been on for 43 years and at least one club (Berkshire Country Club) will be here for the 42nd time and then there are others that have been coming for almost as long.'' The tournament commences on Monday, with play taking place at four different golf courses -- Port Royal, Belmont, Mid Ocean and Castle Harbour.

FLASHBACK -- The Riddell's Bay quartet of (from left to right) Norman Wilson, Darron Swan, Mike Moniz and Tom Wilding were the most successful of the Bermuda teams in last year's Goodwill tournament which celebrates its 43rd anniversary next week.