Adam Perry is looking forward to defending his Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championship title at Port Royal Golf Course this week.

The 20-year-old won the 54-hole event for the first time last year by a commanding ten shots and is not taking any risks as he bids to retain his crown.

“I am just trying to keep myself in the hunt over the first two days by playing some conservative golf,” Perry told The Royal Gazette.

“Port Royal isn’t long, so I can play steady golf using three iron off the tee and aiming for the middle of the greens to try to reduce dropped shots.

“I think something around even par will win the tournament, so there is no need to be aggressive with my golf over the first two days.”

Perry is competing among a formidable field that also includes fellow title hopefuls Jarryd Dillas, Jevon Roberts, Oliver Betschart, Damian Palanyandi, Kenny Leseur and Eric West.

“It’s a very strong field and it’s nice to see Eric, Damian, Jarryd and Adam, as the defending champion, competing,” Roberts said.

“There are a lot of good players in the field and whoever is crowned champion will have had to play very good golf.”

Also back to defend her title is women’s champion Ebonie Cox, who is putting no pressure on herself to succeed.

“I still love to compete and perform well, but these days it’s more about enjoying myself,” she said.

“I don’t like to put added pressure on myself thinking about defending a title. This is a new year and a new field, so that’s how I am looking at it.”

Cox clinched the women’s title by a whopping 20 shots last year and should again feature prominently against the likes of past winner Kim Botelho, but the reigning Bermuda Ladies Match Play champion has been busy lately as she gears her preparations towards representing Bermuda at next month’s Island Games in Guernsey.

“My main focus right now is the Island Games and the Stroke Play Championship is a great opportunity to see where my game truly is,” Cox added.

The senior men’s division will have a new winner this year as American Scott Clark is not back to defend his title.

Bermuda’s Tracy Burgess has her work cut defending her senior women’s title among a competitive field that includes fellow title contenders Linda Down and Ann Symonds.

The championship begins on Friday and runs until Sunday.