Jarryd Dillas romped to a ninth Bermuda Match Play Championships title with a convincing 4 and 2 victory over Jevon Roberts in the final at a windswept Port Royal Golf Course yesterday afternoon.

The Mid Ocean Club amateur coped better than his rival in the strong gales ranging from 15 to 40 knots, sealing the deal with two holes left to play after Roberts conceded the hole at Port Royal’s world-famous 16th green.

Dillas’s five-iron tee shot left him with an six to eight-foot putt, while Roberts lost his ball and with it his hopes of a second title in three years.

“It was a really good shot and I surprised myself because I really struggled in the conditions,” Dillas told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s great to win this event again because I drove the ball really well in tough conditions. I felt drove it well for all three days, so I gave myself good opportunities into most of the holes.”

Dillas relied upon his experience playing in the trying conditions which worked to his advantage.

“I have played in a lot of conditions like this,” he added. “This event seems to bring out these really windy conditions, so it was good to draw on that experience. Just try to stay patient and understand that pars and bogeys are sometimes good scores, and I am really happy to come out on top.”

Dillas led by one hole at the turn before pulling away coming in on a back nine that was exposed to the adverse conditions.

He was in firm control after extending his advantage to three holes at the par-four 14th before surging into an unassailable lead at the picturesque 16th after Roberts conceded the hole.

“I think anyone who knows my game knows that I am a high-ball hitter, so I think I struggled in the wind,” Dillas said. “I had to manufacture a lot of shots, particularly with my irons. I can flatten out the driver pretty well, so that allows me to be aggressive.

“I find it quite difficult into the wind, certain crosswinds, to keep the ball down. But I think I did a better job of that over the few days; missing in the right spots and again just really not trying to compound a mistake. Just try to get back into position as best I can putting pressure on my opponent.

“Today I think Jevon was a little off and I took advantage of that. In the middle part of the round, I felt I played quite well and again it was about being patient and keeping the ball in front of you.”

Dillas also held it together with the putter.

“I felt like I putted a lot better,” he said. “I struggled a bit on Friday but then I putted really well yesterday [Saturday], in particular in my match [semi-final] against Will Haddrell.

“I holed good putts to get the advantage in that and then today it was more about being steady.”

Roberts took the defeat in stride.

“I would have loved to have won it again,” he said. “But I was glad to have made it to the final and played against Jarryd, whose reputation and resume speaks for itself. Jarryd is a really good player.

“It was tough conditions today and he just handled the conditions better than I did.

“I had a few opportunities where I could have got a little closer but just wasn’t able to capitalise. He put himself in position over and over again to keep the momentum and stop me from gaining any, so hats off to him and his victory.”

Calvin Hendrickson retained the senior men’s title with a 2 and 1 win over Christopher Phillips in the final.

“It’s surreal because I am suffering with arthritis in my hip right now and I am surprised these guys didn’t take advantage of the lame horse,” Hendrickson said jokingly.

“The conditions were tough today and I just managed to do well enough to win.”