Fairmont Bermuda's managing director Norman Mastalir hopes the hotel's new Bacardi National Par-3 Championship will 'energise the golf scene in Bermuda'.

Speaking at yesterday's official launch of the Island's newest golf competition Mastalir said he believed the competition would further raise Bermuda's golfing profile.

And he also paid tribute to Anthony Mocklow, the director of golf for Fairmont Southampton & Riddell's Bay Golf & Country Club, the brains behind the tournament, which will be open to professionals and amateurs and held at the Fairmont Southampton on April 10-11.

"Creating tournaments like the Bacardi National Par-3 Championship will help us to energise the golf scene in Bermuda," said Mastalir. "This will give golfers a reason to come to Bermuda, and I would like to acknowledge Anthony Mocklow, whose commitment to energising golf in Bermuda is boundless.

"His enthusiasm, skill, and dedication have formed this tournament and made it a reality."

Mocklow meanwhile believes the Fairmont Southampton course will be a great leveller, giving amateurs the chance to challenge the professionals on an equal footing.

"This competition will be about short-game quality and skill," he said. "I would take any player in Bermuda, I don't care who they are, and I would play the score card against them and they'll struggle.

"It's not about strength and distance at Fairmont, and that levels the playing field. Anyone can have a good short game and it will be interesting to see just who wins."

The format for the championships will see entrants split into two divisions, with professional men and women playing against each other, and amateur men and women competing together. The overall professional winner will take home $2,500.

Tournament entry forms can be downloaded from the website fairmontgolf.com/southampton, or picked up from the hotel's golf shop. The entry fee is $225 for professionals and $175 for amateurs and includes a practice round, tournament fees, and a welcome cocktail reception.

n Canada Tour professional Brian McCann will be back to defend his Bermuda Open title next week, but he is likely to face some stiff competition.

Nationwide Tour professionals Brannon Webb and David Schuster have signed up for the tournament, as has European Seniors Tour pro Graham Bannister, and last year's Goslings winner Joe Horowitz has also thrown his hat into the ring.

In all there are 35 entries for the event so far. The deadline for entries has been extended till Monday.