Organisers of the Moongate Tour have announce four new partnerships, including with the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

The local developmental golf tour, aimed at providing more competitive opportunities for the island’s top professional and amateur players, has reached the halfway point of its inaugural season and is now garnering additional support from the business community.

“I’m happy to announce that the Moongate Tour will be partnering with the Life & Annuity Services Ltd, Dunkley’s and Paradise Golf for the remainder of our 2022 season and beyond,” said Chaka DeSilva, tour co-founder.

“We’ve always maintained that our first year was about proof of concept, so to be in a position where we’re able to improve our infrastructure and further enhance the players’ tournament experience through support from our new corporate partners is amazing.

“We want to create a championship-style feel at each one of our events and this announcement puts us on track to do just that.

“Our tour is focused on much more than just the prize purse, and we’re incredibly proud of the improvements that we’re making to help raise the bar of competitive golf in Bermuda.

“We’ve been humbled by the response that we’ve received from the golfing public since our first event back in February, and this is another important step forward in our journey.”

Jevon Roberts, assistant tournament director of the Bermuda Championship, spoke of the significance of the new partnership.

“The Butterfield Bermuda Championship is excited to partner with the Moongate Tour,” he said. “We firmly believe in helping to move the level of golf in Bermuda forward and we view the Moongate Tour as an excellent initiative to help Bermudian golfers gain more tournament experience locally.

“We at the Championship want to continue to provide competitive environments for local players, preparing them for an opportunity on the big stage at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.”

Those sentiments of creating greater opportunities for local players were echoed by Scott Barnett, chief executive of Life & Annuity Services.

“As a passionate golfer myself, I feel it’s important to try and ensure that our best professionals and amateurs have the opportunity to compete regularly against one another,” he said.

“I think this is something that has been lacking for far too long and I’m happy to support the Moongate Tour in their efforts to build something special for the future.”

The Moongate Tour has three monthly medals remaining on its 2022 calendar, with the top 18 finishers on the season-long Order of Merit qualifying for the Tour Championship in September.

Entries are now being accepted for the next event of the series, which is scheduled for July 1 at the Port Royal Golf Course.

Amateur Damian Palanyandi leads the overall standings with three wins from four events, followed closely by Bermuda Professional Golfers Association member Nick Jones in second place. Veteran professional Dwayne Pearman and amateurs Jarryd Dillas and Will Haddrell round out the top five.