Jarryd Dillas believes this year's Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championships will be a closely contested affair without defending champion Daniel Augustus but with many of the Island's top golfers set to play in the first round at Port Royal tomorrow.

The 72-hole men's and 54-hole women's event finishes on Monday.

Augustus, who won last year tournament by five strokes over Jun Hardart who is also in the field, has turned pro and is currently in Florida playing on the Moonlight tour (see separate story on Page 21).

However, with the likes of Hardart as well as Dillas, Robert Vallis, Nick Jones, Camiko Smith and Nick Mansell set to tee off, Dillas believes this year's event boasts one of the strongest fields assembled for the annual competition.

"I came fourth last year but my preparations are going well at the moment and am happy with my game," said Dillas. "It would have been great to have Daniel in the field but he has decided to turn pro and move on with his golfing career. But it is still a very strong field this year with a lot of younger golfers returning from school to play.

"Dr. Vallis, Camiko Smith, Arthur Jones and Nick Mansell are just a number of players who have the ability to win it this year, so I just want to be in the running for the duration and give myself a chance to win it come Monday."

Recently Dillas was in third place and in a great position to be among the top two players who advance to the US. Open field after the first round of qualifying. However, the Bermudian's second round of 80 left him in a tie for 14th place, missing out on a once in a lifetime opportunity.

And although the Strokeplay field isn't as big as it previously has been, the 25 year-old reckons his recent experience may be to his advantage as he looks to add the championship to his list of achievements.

"I have just got back from the US Open qualifying about two weeks' ago which went pretty well, so I'm looking to hit the greens and take advantage of any situations that may arise.

"It is a strong field to go up against. The numbers may not be as big as they were three or four years ago but it is a competitive and bigger than last year, so it sets up nice for the weekend."

The winner of the event will receive an exemption to the Dixie Amateur in Coral Springs, Florida in December.

In the ladies' division, defending champion Tariqah Walikraam looks to win her third title in a row this year but will have her hands full with Senior Stroke Play champion, Kathy Lloyd-Hines, Bermuda's 2010 Match Play champion Katrin Burnie and WATC member Ebonie Burgess in the hunt.

Other notable players in the field this week are Seniors Stroke Play runner-up, Betty Ann Sudbury, Katyna Rabain, Cindy Hardart, Ann Symonds, Nikki Boyce and Susan Vallis.

The ladies' field is one of the strongest in several years.