A third qualifying spot has opened up for a Bermudian to play in the Bermuda Championships at Port Royal this month.

The Bermuda Golf Association and the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association announced yesterday that an additional qualifying spot will come out of the local qualifying tournament.

That will enable the top three finishers in the two-day tournament next Wednesday and Thursday to join professional Dwayne Pearman, who has been given a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the island’s first PGA Tour event which is scheduled for October 31 to November 3.

Entries for the qualifier closed on Monday evening, with 18 players — 13 professionals and five amateurs — signed up to compete for the three spots.

They include Daniel Augustus, Quinton Sherlock Jr, Michael Sims and Camiko Smith, along with amateurs Jarryd Dillas, Wiliam Haddrell, Damian Palanyandi and Kenny Leseur, the youngest competitor at age 15.

“The opportunity to qualify for a PGA Tour event on local soil is unprecedented,” Craig Brown, the BGA president, said.

“We are excited that the local qualifier will now give three players from a field of 18 the chance to represent Bermuda on the world stage come October 31.

“We wish to thank the Bermuda Championship Tournament committee for securing a third qualifying spot and for providing Bermudians with this wonderful opportunity.”

Scott Roy, the BPGA president, added: “The field has strength in depth with locally based BPGA members, Bermudian professionals returning from overseas, and several high-quality amateur players. The event promises to be extremely competitive, and now that we have an additional qualifying spot there will be a lot of pressure to perform knowing what we are all playing for.”

The two-day qualifying event at Port Royal will start at 10am on both days.

Admission is free and spectators are encouraged to come and support the players in their attempt to make history and tee it up alongside the world’s best golfers.

The tournament director for the Bermuda Championship Local Qualifier will be Gary Venning, a level three R & A Rules Official.