Invitational Tournament celebrates its 25th anniversary next week at Belmont.

Both Tim Conley, last year's overall winner, and amateur champion Nick Mansell of Bermuda are unavailable because of other commitments.

Conley, a popular visitor who has won the event four times since 1991, has committed himself to the PGA qualifying school. Mansell is unable to defend his title because he and Zane DeSilva, third among the amateurs last year, are in Venezuela representing Bermuda in the Simon Bolivar Amateur Championships.

The prize money for the tournament, which runs from December 1-4, has doubled to $30,000, with $10,000 going to the new professional champion.

Bermuda will have a new player among its pros when Adam Tufts makes his debut.

Tufts, 24, learned his golf at the Belmont course close to his home years ago under Alex Crofton and is looking forward to his first ever participation in the event.

"I just want to play consistently and try and hit in the low 70s,'' said Tufts yesterday.

"I want to stay in the top 15 or 20 of the pros. I'm going to have a good time and this is my first tournament so I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself. Of course I want to do well.'' Tufts turned pro after graduating from Ferris State in Michigan in May.

He had an internship after that in Atlanta at the Horseshoe Bend Country Club in Roswell and is now awaiting a work permit before returning to the US to work as a club pro.

Some of the prize money would certainly come in handy, but Tufts will have to contend with a host of established pros, including Bermuda's current top pro, Dwayne Pearman, who was second to Conley last year.

Pearman was Bermuda's last winner of the event in 1992. Fran Marello, who won in 1994 and was third last year, is returning for the event which has attracted three major sponsors in Gosling's, DeCouto and Dunstan and the Belmont hotel.

"Because it is the 25th anniversary we would like to give something extra to the winner. We have the support of the sponsors and the players,'' said tournament chairman Keith Cassidy who confirmed yesterday that the tournament was full at 125 entries.

Long time visitor Joe Carr, who won in 1979 and 1982, and Paul Parajeckas are among those.

Most of Island pros are entered, including Cornell Bean and Barry DeCouto on their home course. The local amateurs will be led by the likes of Bill Pitt, Max Atherden, Steve Duxbury and Mal Gosling Jr. Douglas (Blip) Morris was second among amateurs last year.

Tim Carr, recovering from an illness, and Henry Ascento, will be missing.

In total there will be some 35 to 40 overseas pros and amateurs participating.

A junior fund-raising tournament is scheduled for Saturday and a Pro-Am on Sunday before the tournament kicks off on Monday.