A record number of golfers have signed up for this month’s Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship.

Two Brazilian professionals, a former NFL quarterback, and Charlie Rymer, the Golf Channel analyst, are among the 151 entrants for the Turtle Hill Golf Club tournament.

Also on the list are Barry Lane and Chip Beck, whose singles battle at The Belfry in 1993 earned them a place in Ryder Cup history.

Beck is also one of only six players to break 60 on the PGA Tour, shooting a 59 in the third round of the Las Vegas Invitational in 1991.

Other familiar faces include Bill Joe Tolliver, the former New Orleans Saints quarterback, who will return again in April for the second Bermuda Golf Classic, alongside a host of other former and current professional American footballers.

However, it is the inclusion of Brazil pair Andre Tourinho and Rafael Becker that says much for the expanded reach of a tournament that has grown every year since its inception.

Both new to the professional ranks, they heard about the event through the PGA Latino committee.

For Tourinho, who only became a professional in January, the opportunity to earn some valuable experience against a competitive field, and hopefully make some money in the process, was too good to pass up.

I don’t have any status to any tour,” Tourinho said. “Since I turned pro, I haven’t played any event for money.

“I played in the Latino Q school, which I failed, and one Monday qualify for the Colombian Open. Money is a big factor for me right now.”

Tourinho, a three-times Brazilian Amateur Champion, finds himself in much the same position as Bermuda pair Camiko Smith and Daniel Augustus, both of whom are working hard to join one of the minor tours.

Being able to play well, however, is only half the battle, and the $75,000 prize fund on offer at next weekend’s tournament would go a long way to helping any of them chase their dreams.

“I had a few people in Brazil that promised to sponsor me as soon as I turned pro and when I did, they turned away,” Tourinho said.

“The economy in Brazil is going through a very hard time, a lot of layoffs, and I guess companies are cutting costs.

“I want to play events on the Adams Mini Tour and some PGA Tour Monday’s, but it costs a lot of money to travel from place to place, to pay for caddies, hotels, entry fees, etc.”

Money is not the only motivating factor driving Tourinho, he also wants to prove he can win at the next level when it counts.

“There are a lot of golfers that can play very good golf, it’s important to do it when it really matters, which are qualifying schools and on the Web.com Tour.”