Teenager Jarryd Dillas is showing good form as he prepares to leave this week for the World Amateur Team Golf Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 17-year-old former Saltus student, who now attends school in Florida where he is also a pupil at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, placed a creditable fourth over the weekend when he competed at the 36-hole Sun City Centre Open in Fort Myers.

Dillas fired rounds of 75 and 73.

Also competing were fellow Bermudians David Smith, Sergio Edness, Tashon DeSilva and Ebonie Burgess, who like Dillas, attend the Leadbetter Academy.

Burgess won the girls' division after a play-off with Alina Lee, having posted rounds of 75 and 76 while Smith (77-75) tied for 14th, Edness (76-79) tied for 21st and DeSilva (86-87) placed 35th.

Dillas also competed for his new school, Bradenton Academy, in the Donald Ross Invitational - an annual high school event - and tied for third with a one-over-par round of 73. That helped his team to a convincing eight-stroke victory over a field of more than 15 schools.

Dillas is scheduled to return to Bermuda tomorrow and will depart for Malaysia with team-mates Tim Carr and Nick Mansell and manager Michael (Tracy) Tavares a day later.

The players will get chance to play a number of practice rounds on two courses at the Saujana Golf and Country Club outside Kuala Lumpur before the World Championships for the Eisenhower Trophy begin in earnest on Thursday, October 24.

Dillas said yesterday he was beginning to reap the rewards of attending golf school.

“I've worked hard on improving my posture, narrowing my take-away, lowering my arm plane going back and retaining my body angles through the hitting area,” he said.

“The changes felt very awkward to begin with and I'll continue to work on them throughout the year, but I'm now just beginning to feel comfortable while playing.

“I'm really enjoying the programme down here at Leadbetter. We work on all facets of the game, ranging from the full swing to the mental game. I feel I've prepared for Malaysia and I'm looking forward to teaming up with Nick (Mansell) and Tim (Carr). I'm confident we'll give a good showing out there.”