Bermuda will have a new Amateur Match Play men’s champion this week

Fraser Hunt, who beat Ben Hodge 2 and 1 to win the title for the first time last year, has opted not to play in the tournament which begins tomorrow at Mid Ocean Club.

For the rest of the 16-man field the first day will be a straight fight to see who qualifies for the Men’s Championship flight, with only the top eight going through, the bottom eight will go into a consolation flight.

The women’s field has eight players, and with defending champion Ebonie Burgess not needing to qualify for the match play event, the other seven will battle it out for seedings.

Seniors do not need to qualify this year, and will go straight into match play in both the men’s and women’s divisions, having been seeded according to their handicaps, except for Max Atherden, the defending men’s senior champion, who is the first seed.

n The Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championships begin tomorrow and run until Saturday at Mid Ocean.