BERMUDA'S fickle March weather appears to be taking its toll on one the island's most prestigious golf tournaments.

Next week's Amateur Match Play Championships at Mid Ocean Club, now in their 73rd year, will get underway with just 40 men and likely no more than a dozen women.

That represents one of the smallest fields in recent years and a huge drop from the registration in 1995 and 1996 when 80 and 71 players respectively signed up.

Tom Smith, secretary of Bermuda Golf Association, has no doubts about the reason for the decline.

"Quite frankly, I think some of the players have just got fed up with the kind of weather they've had to put up with," said Smith.

"We've had some atrocious conditions in recent years, some really nasty weather. It's made playing very uncomfortable."

A look back at the records shows that the last time Mother Nature blessed the championships, traditionally held at the beginning of March, was in 1995.

Since then tournament players have been drenched by torrential rain, blown off course by gale force winds and even had to shiver through hail.

In 1996, winds were so strong the qualifying round had to be postponed and a year later rain squalls and a blustery, cold wind made for almost impossible playing conditions. There was much of the same through 1998, 1999, 2000 and last year, when those who were able to best control their ball in the wind advanced furthest.

Count among that group Scotsman Paul Harkness, who honed his game on the wind-whipped links of eastern Scotland and put that experience to good use last year when he breezed into the final before dismissing Boston's Bill Jenks seven and six in a lopsided 36-hole final.

Disenchanted with his job at the Bank of Bermuda, Harkness has since moved on and won't be returning to defend his title.

Also absent will be another player who has made his mark on the event in recent years, policeman Tim Carr, a winner in 1999. Work commitments have ruled him out this year.

Of the ten overseas male entries (eight from the US, one from Canada and another from UK), Jenks might be the favourite and will be hoping to make amends for his disappointment in last year's final.

Locally, Mid Ocean Club members Robert Vallis, champion in 2000, and Blake Marshall, will be seen as the strongest contenders.

A dark horse, however, will be long-hitting teenager Jarryd Dillas who has been raising a few eyebrows with his form of late and may be poised to break through for his first major victory.

In a severely depleted women's field, Florida's Janell Howland won't be returning to defend her title, having comprehensively defeated 2000 winner Laura Robinson in last year's final. Robinson, also, will be among the absentees although 1999 champion Jennifer Spurling has entered.

Indeed, there was some concern this week that next week's championship might follow that of 1997 when lack of interest prompted cancellation.

As of midweek, only 11 ladies had entered with secretary Smith needing at least one more to ensure a competitive event, but hoping for at least five additions.

As it is, following Monday's medal round the men's tournament will enter match play with a championship and first flight of 16 and a second flight of eight.

Should the women's field number no more than 12, play will be in a championship flight of eight and a second flight of four.

Play is scheduled throughout the week with the ladies' 36-hole final on Friday and the men's 36-hole championship a day later. All other matches will be decided over 18 holes.