Amateur Championships which gets underway at Mid Ocean Club this morning at 8.20.

George Marucci of Verwyn, Pennsylvania, and Jody Vasquez of Forth Worth, Texas, both scratch players, have had little trouble coping with the challenges of the course this week and will today hope that their mastery will continue.

While one of them will have to settle for runners-up, today's match-up promises to be exciting. When the two finalist entered they were among the favourites and now that they have reached this far the stage is set for a dramatic conclusion.

Marucci show his mettle in yesterday's semi-final when he beat another favourite American Christian Chernock two-up while Vasquez gave a courageous display to hold off compatriot Michael Williford and win the other semi-final one-up.

Yesterday morning's quarter-final saw Bermudians Bill Pitt Jr. and Henry Ascento bow out with Pitt beaten five-and-three by Marucci and Ascento just being edged out one-up by Williford.

The 22-year-old Chernock, who is hoping to turn professional this year, beat local resident Colin James in the quarter-final four-and-three while the other contest saw Vasquez easily beat American Russell Abbott five-and-four.

Today's second 18 holes of the final will start at 1 p.m.

In today's Championship Flight Consolation final there will be another all-American battle with Walker Taylor meeting Carl Tuke.

Walker was stretched to the limit before beating Bermuda's Robert Vallis on the 20th while Tuke edged Bermuda's Jack Wahl two and one in the other semi-final.