A new Bermuda Amateur Match Play champion will be crowned at Port Royal Golf Course on Sunday, weather permitting.

Adam Perry captured his maiden title after coming from behind to beat rival Eric West by one hole in last year’s final but is not back to defend his crown this year after joining the professional ranks.

West is among those returning and has low expectations heading into the championship, which kicks off with the qualifying round at Port Royal on Friday after being inactive in recent months.

“I have no expectations, just to go out and find the ball,” West said.

“I haven’t played a tournament since Christmas and I’ve made a lot of changes to my equipment. I only decided to play this tournament a few days ago.”

This year’s field also includes 2023 finalists Damian Palanyandi and ten-times champion Jarryd Dillas, who came out on top.

Palanyandi is bracing himself for the challenge of a strong field in likely testing conditions.

“We have a strong field of players and rainy conditions forecast for this weekend but I’m cautiously optimistic,” he said.

Also teeing off is Oliver Betschart, who won last week’s Cedarberry Bowl, which was jointly hosted by Belmont Hills Golf Club and Tucker’s Point Golf Club.

“The Cedarberry Bowl was really good preparation for the Bermuda Match Play Championship,” he said.

Butler University student Kenny Leseur, who beat Betschart in a play-off to win the Bermuda Amateur Men's Stroke Play Championship at Port Royal Golf Course last June, is also among the contenders.

“My game is in a good spot right now and I’m looking forward to the challenge in the weather and excited to play,” said Leseur, who lost 5 and 3 against eventual winner Perry in the semi-final last year.

Among the noticeable absentees is 2020 winner Jevon Roberts, who has decided to skip the event to support his son’s debut in the Kappa Classic.

“The main reason I am not playing is because my son is playing Kappa so it’s directly going to conflict with the Bermuda Match Play,” said Roberts, who also missed last year’s event.

“I want to support his first go at Kappa and make sure that I see that, so that’s why I am not playing in it.”

Due to the forecast of inclement weather, tournament organisers have revised the format for this year’s event to enhance the chances of it being played in its entirety.

A field of 16 players will compete in a stroke-play format in today’s qualifier for seeding purposes, with the top eight advancing to the Championship Flight and those placing ninth through sixteenth taking part in the First Flight.

“This will cut down on the number of matches needed in order to complete the tournament,” said Darrin Lewis, the Bermuda Golf Association general secretary.

“In the event that we are not able to complete the Match Play Qualifier on Friday, the field will be seeded according to Handicap Index as of April 10, 2025.”