men's champion will almost certainly be crowned at this weekend's Amateur Strokeplay Championships at Port Royal.

The 72-hole tournament gets underway this morning, but there'll be no sign of defending champion Robert Vallis, a winner also in 1995 and 1991, Henry Ascento, who won in 1994, and Jack Wahl, who lifted the title in 1990 and 1992.

The only recent winner in the 63-strong entry is young Duncan Zelkin, who claimed his first major local victory back in 1993.

Besides Zelkin, Tim Carr and Mark Dupuy will be seen as strong contenders, Carr having won the Match Play title at Mid Ocean back in March when he defeated Dupuy in the final.

Others who could make a run at the title include Ocean View manager Bill Pitt, Tony Readwin and Arthur Jones, all of whom have represented the Island in the World Amateur Team Championships, while there's a potenitially strong young contingent including the likes of 12-year-old Aaron James, who has been turning heads with his impressive display in the Amstel Golf League.

Tomorrow sees the start of the 54-hole Ladies Championship when again the younger players, including Juliana Jack, Alisa Hardy and Lyndsey Sims, are expected to challenge.

Defending champion Judithanne Astwood and four-time winner Kim Marshall have both turned professional in the last year, which could open the door for Madeline Joell, a winner in 1990, to claim her fourth title of 1997. Joell has already been crowned club champion at Port Royal, Riddell's Bay and Mid Ocean.