qualify for the prestigious United States Open to be held June 17-20 in Springfield, New Jersey.

Swan missed advancing to the next phase of sectional qualifying by six shots and was just two strokes short of forcing a play-off for a position as an alternate.

Competing amongst a field of 38 professionals and 13 amateurs on Monday at the 6,730-yard west course at the Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation, Florida, Swam managed rounds of 77 and 73 for a 36 hole total of 150.

"I figured I had to shoot 148 to give myself a chance, but I fell asleep on the back nine of my first round,'' said the St. George's Golf Club professional.

Five bogeys in that initial round -- two rounds were played on the same day -- cost the Bermudian dearly, which he put down to lapses in concentration.

"It was mostly through mental errors,'' said Swan. "But still I feel good about my game again.

"It is not far off, but I have to keep practising.'' Four automatic berths were available and three alternates, with Jeff Woodland, a native of Australia and PGA tour rookie, firing rounds of 66 and 67 to lead local qualifying.

Louis Bartoletti, the director of golf at Jacaranda, used a measure of local knowledge to post rounds of 70 and 69 to finish second.

Other qualifiers were Scott Ford of Lake Worth, Florida (70 and 71) and Victor Leoni of Hollywood, Florida (72 and 72).

The alternates are Mario Zingales and Steve McDonald, both of Plantation, Florida and Richard Volding of Miami.

Ocean View Golf Club professional Pearman shot a similar score of 150 the previous week in Orlando, Florida, combining two rounds of 75.

Still, Bermuda's top player was unperturbed by this failure and said he was now focusing his attention on an upcoming event on the Canadian tour.

"It was just one of those things,'' Pearman said yesterday.

"I wasn't mad at myself or anything, I just have to move on.'' "Moving on'' for him now means the BC Open, set to commence on Monday in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Accompanying Pearman on the trip will be Belmont pro Cornell Bean, but both will need to first qualify for the event, which is a part of the Canadian professional tour.

"I figure somewhere around par should be good enough to get through,'' said a confident Pearman.

Pearman's ambition is to play in a few Canadian tour events this summer.

DWAYNE PEARMAN KIM SWAN.