Promising teenage golfer Nick Jones will be among the favourites at next week's Bermuda Men's Amateur Match Play Championships at Mid Ocean Club.

The 18-year-old Grandview Prep student finished runner-up in last year's event but will look to go one better on his third attempt at the title, having recently set the International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) scene in the US ablaze.

Jones has plenty of incentive to excel next week as he continues his quest to follow in the footsteps of father Eardley who is a past Amateur Match Play champion.

"We are very keen to be the first father and son team on the trophy," declared Jones, recently voted Golfweek magazine young player of the week.

"My dad will be at my side as my caddie and we are both very keen to win."

Jones has been in superb form in Florida over the past three months where he has won three titles competing in his final year of eligibility on the IJGT circuit.

"I love match play as you can go for everything and as I am competition-sharp and hitting the ball well at the moment I am looking forward to it very much," he said. "Expectations are high but I will just play it day by day.

"I always enjoy Mid Ocean but the greens are different from the US and so I will have to adapt quickly."

Jones, however, can expect to have his work cut out for him as last year's winner Arthur Jones is back to defend his title while the likes of Robert Vallis, Blake Marshall and American Paul Amess could also pose a threat.

"Match play is a diiferent game to strokeplay and if your competitor is on his game you have to just hang on and hope he falters," Jones said.

In the ladies' match play field, a new champion will be crowned this year as Laura Robinson is not back to defend her title.

Kim Botelho, who has come out of retirement for the occasion, now finds herself among the favourites for top honours.

The championships kick off next Tuesday with the qualifying medal round.