Jarryd Dillas has lowered his expectations as he starts the defence of his Bermuda Match Play Championship title at Port Royal Golf Course today.

The top amateur, who has won the event a record ten times, has not been playing much competitive golf this year and feels he will have his work cut out playing against a formidable field.

“Expectations are pretty low as I’m not playing a lot of competitive golf,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“I think there are guys in the field that are playing more and playing better, so I am keeping my expectations in check.

“I have had success with match play in the past and I guess that’s just because you are playing one opponent on a given match.

“I’ve played poorly and won and I’ve played well and lost matches, so anything can happen on the day, but it’s always fun to play and compete.”

The top seed is on the verge of a hat-trick after winning the previous two finals against fellow amateurs Jevon Roberts and Damian Palanyandi.

“I have won it ten times so I have some good memories to draw upon and hopefully I can pull something out of the hat over the weekend,” Dillas said.

“But Kenny Leseur, Eric West and Adam Perry have been playing some good golf and they showed it in the Bermuda Amateur Men’s Stroke Play Championship a couple of weeks ago, so I am going to have to play really well to be competitive with them.”

Leseur is in sparkling form after winning his past three tournaments, including the Bermuda Amateur Men’s Stroke Play Championship at Port Royal after a play-off with teenager Oliver Betschart last month.

“I feel confident going into the Match Play,” he said.

“My game is in a good spot and I just look forward to staying patient and doing everything I can do to just win a hole because match play is one versus one.

“I definitely enjoy the format so I think it should be fun this weekend and hopefully I get it done again.”

Former Tour de las Américas player West, who is coming off back-to-back third place finishes in the Bermuda Amateur Men’s Stroke Play Championship and Gosling’s Moongate Tour events, has been making the necessary adjustments in the build-up to the event.

“Getting ready for a match play tournament is difficult because there’s so much golf in a short amount of time,” he said. “If you make it to the finals that’s five rounds in three days.

“There’s a fine line between overpreparing and coming in flat. I’ve gotten into the habit of just getting my game to the edge and then finding it within the tournament, so I’ll be out there playing my game and enjoying the competition.”

Among the noticeable absentees from the field is past winner Roberts, who has been ruled out through family commitments, while promising player Betschart is off island.

The Bermuda Golf Association, has confirmed there is no senior division in this weekend’s event owing to a low turnout of participants, while this year’s Bermuda Women’s Match Play Championship has been cancelled for the same reason.