Match Play always seems to bring the best out of Walker Campbell who has returned home to defend his Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championships title at Mid Ocean Club.

The Hilton Head Preparatory School senior pupil beat Jevon Roberts 5 and 4 in last year’s 36-hole final and is optimistic of defending his title at this week’s Match Play Championships, which start tomorrow.

“It’s great to be back to defend my Match Play title,” Campbell said. “I really enjoy playing match play events, it brings out the best in my game.

“I feel my overall game is very solid at the moment, I’ve been putting in a lot of hard work recently. I hope my efforts translate into another win this week.”

Campbell is also excited to be playing in familiar settings again.

“I love playing at Mid Ocean and it’s great to be competing on my home turf again,” he said.

“The classic style of the course makes it a lot of fun to play, and is a really good test of golf under tournament conditions.”

Campbell will have his work cut out competing among a formidable field, including four-times winner Jarryd Dillas.

“I expect the field to be pretty strong this year,” Campbell said. “There are a lot of talented players playing like Jarryd Dillas, Mark Phillips and Damian Palanyandi.”

Campbell competed with Dillas at January’s Latin America Amateur Championships in the Dominican Republic, where he gained valuable pointers.

“It was definitely a learning experience for me, and one that I will benefit and draw from,” he said.

“I got to represent my country while competing at one of the highest levels of amateur golf, and it was a great experience.”

Campbell is looking forward to playing at the NCAA Division I level when he begins studies at the College of William and Mary in Virginia this year.

“I’m really excited about going to college and playing Division I golf,” he said. “I’ve wanted to play college golf for a long time now, and to have achieved this goal is very exciting. I hope to be one of the starting five players at William and Mary this autumn.

“I’m looking forward to this next stage in my life and enjoying all the opportunities that come with attending college.”

Also back to defend their women’s and senior women’s titles this year are Ebonie Burgess and Valerie Nearon.

Burgess beat Elizabeth Parsons 3 and 2 to retain her title in last year’s final while Nearon edged out Carol Jones on the final hole to win 1-up.

A new champion will be crowned at the championships in the senior men’s division as Craig Christensen has opted not to defend his title.

The championships get under way tomorrow with the stroke play qualifier.

Defending champions Campbell and Burgess have both received a bye in the stroke-play qualifiers as they are the automatic top seeds, while Nearon will open her title defence in the Championship Flight.