The format for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship Local Qualifier has been revised again this year.

Tournament officials revealed that the upcoming event will be contested over 36 holes and not 54 as was the case last year.

The last time the event consisted of 36 holes was in 2022 when professionals Michael Sims and Nick Jones and top amateur Jarryd Dillas qualified for the main event.

The Bermuda Golf Association and Bermuda Professional Golfers Association have announced that the qualifier will be held at Port Royal Golf Course on September 11 and 12, when the island’s golfers will be keen to secure the spoils up for grabs.

“We are looking forward to welcoming 2024’s top three Bermudians into the field for Bermuda’s PGA Tour event,” Danielle Carrera, the tournament director, said in a press release.

“The top three finishers will be awarded an exemption into the Butterfield Bermuda Championship and the next three qualifiers will earn spots in the Butterfield Bermuda APGA Championship being played at Port Royal Golf Course from December 2 to 4.”

Craig Brown, the BGA president, described the qualifier as a “much anticipated event on the Bermuda golf calendar” which represents a unique opportunity for Bermudians to grasp their dream to play in a PGA Tour event.

“Since the inception of this qualifier in 2019, we have seen numerous amateurs secure qualifying spots for the Butterfield Bermuda Championship,” he said.

“Through this pathway, we hope Bermudians golfers will continue to play a part in creating more exciting moments and great stories, such as those generated through the qualifying of young golfers Kenny Leseur and Oliver Betschart."

Quinton Sherlock Jr, the BPGA president, added: “The BPGA and its members are again grateful to the Butterfield Bermuda Championship for providing this incredible opportunity. We wait with anticipation for our first local player to make the cut in the championship.”

Eric West was the top qualifier last year, with fellow amateur Betschart and professional Scott Roy securing the remaining spots.

At age 15, Betschart became the youngest local to compete in the event and youngest player to play on the PGA Tour since 2014.

Amateur pair Dillas and Jones and professional Chaka DeSilva clinched the available qualifying spots for the APGA championship also held at Port Royal.

Entries are open to professional golfers, amateur golfers and applicants for reinstatement.

To be eligible to compete in the qualifier, participants must possess Bermudian status, be in good standing with the BGA and BPGA, and not subject to any disciplinary process or sanction of either association, while amateurs must have an up-to-date handicap index, or equivalent handicap issued by an international body of golf, not exceeding 1.4 under the USGA Handicap System.

A player’s most recent eight counting handicap scores cannot include results from before September 1, 2023.

Full details of eligibility requirements and Conditions of Competition related to conducting the tournament will be available at the time of registration. Entries close on Tuesday at 5pm.

Any questions should be directed to info@bermudagolf.org or the BGA office at 295-9972.

Bermudians who are located overseas and intend to return for the qualifier should be aware they will be need to fully comply with travel requirements as stipulated by the Bermuda Government, and should factor this into their travel arrangements.

• For more information about the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, visit www.butterfieldbdachampionship.com