Bissell’s backing locals to come good
Jack Daniels Tour organiser Andrew Bissell is backing the Island’s golfers to complete a clean sweep of this year’s major tournaments.Bissell is confident that a local professional will win each of the main events held in Bermuda over the next 12 months, the Bermuda Open, the Gosling’s Invitational, and the Bacardi Par 3 Championship.That’s some claim considering that only twice in the past nine years Dwayne Pearman (2002), Michael Sims (2005) have local golfers won the Open.You have to go even further back to find the last time a local golfer triumphed at the Gosling’s Invitational. Dwayne Pearman won the event in 1992, although that is the only time in it’s decades long history that a local professional has triumphed.In fact, of the three tournaments, a Bermudian is only defending champion in one, with Daniel Augustus winning the inaugural Par 3 championship last March.However Bissell is adamant that the Island’s professionals can dominate this year, and points to the relative success they enjoyed in 2010 as evidence that his claims aren’t as far fetched as some might believe.“Some may think this is a bit of a lofty goal but having seen some of the talent we have in the Professional Golfers Association of Bermuda, it can easily be accomplished,” said Bissell.This year’s Bermuda Open has been scheduled for June 16-19, and the hope is that the likelihood of better weather will encourage more overseas professionals to take part.The Bacardi Par 3 is already expected to have a healthy overseas contingent, with the US-based Par 3 Executive and Golf Association attending the March tournament.Given the amount of golf coming up the Bermuda professionals will get their season up and running in little more than a week’s time with the first round of the Jack Daniels Tour, which will be held at Tucker’s Point on Monday, February 14.