in today's semi-finals of the Bermuda PGA Match Play Golf Championships.

Dwayne Pearman and Kim Swan, who will represent Bermuda in World Cup qualifying in October, won their quarter-final matches yesterday to advance against rookies David James and Keith R.F. Smith, respectively.

James surprised Derrick Douglas -- ranked third in the PGA Order of Merit this season -- 4 and 3 while Smith upset Barry DeCouto 3 and 2 in blustery conditions at Ocean View.

Meanwhile, Pearman, the defending champion, beat Leo Custodio 4 and 3 while Swan had a little more trouble with Eardley Jones, finally subduing last year's finalist 2 and 1.

"I just scraped it around a little bit; I didn't really strike the ball very well,'' said Pearman, the Ocean View and the Island's top pro. "I was just happy to come away with a win.'' He said the wind -- expected to continue today -- didn't present any severe difficulties. "It just made it a little more exciting,'' he said.

Today's winners meet in the final tomorrow, also at Ocean View.

Pearman and Swan are getting ready for the trip to Jamaica, where they will attempt to finish in the top 10 among more than 40 countries looking for a place in the World Cup championship. They narrowly failed to qualify last year.

Each will have overseas tune-ups next month, with Swan going to Canada and Pearman taking part in the New England Open.

Dwayne Pearman