Jarryd Dillas recovered from a four-shot deficit at the halfway point on the final day of the Bermuda Match Play Championships to claim the title.

Dillas, the reigning champion, defeated Arthur Jones 4 and 3 over 36 holes at the Mid Ocean Club on Saturday, while Tariqah Walikraam beat Katrin Burnie 5 and 4 in the women’s championship.

After the first 18 holes Jones was in control but Dillas, the tournament favourite, fought back by winning five of the first six holes on the final round to secure a sixth title in eight years.

Dillas admits it was a “tale of two 18s” and maintains he always felt supremely confident of reeling in Jones.

“Arthur was really strong this morning and I just couldn’t quite get going,” Dillas said.

“I knew I was going to have to play well in the afternoon and try and limit my mistakes. When you give someone of Arthur’s ability a head start it’s tough to get back into the match.

“Having played so many finals I know there’s such a long way to go and I didn’t panic through the final 18. I’ve been down four shots before and I knew I could lean on that.

“I knew there was a lot of golf to be played and it was a good turnaround.”

Dillas said he struggled with his putting early on, struggling to get to grips with the speed of the greens.

Before the second 18 holes he spent some time on the practice green in an effort to iron out any faults in his game.

“I struggled with the speed of the greens and my putting was a bit off,” he said. “But I put some time in on the practice green and I felt a little bit better going out [for the second 18 holes].

“From then on it was about trying to apply some pressure and not give any holes away.

“It was about minimising my mistakes and I knew if I played well I could get back into it.

“I won five of the first six holes on the second 18 to be up. He won eight and I won nine to be one-up with nine to play and from then on I played really solid.”

Dillas will now turn his attentions to preparing for the NatWest Island Games in Gotland, Sweden, in June.

“This win should get me in the Island Games team,” said Dillas, won gold on 2009 in Aland and silver in 2013 in Bermuda.

“I don’t think Golf will be in the 2019 competition, so we want to go to Gotland and give a good showing and win some medals for Bermuda.

“For me, everything is geared up towards the Island Games now.”

Results, page 34