Jevon Roberts and Scott Roy put down an early marker after finishing joint winners of the 2023 Moongate Tour season opener at a windswept Port Royal Golf Course yesterday.

The pair coped best in the trying conditions on the way to rounds of seven-over 78 which earned them a share of honours.

Nick Jones, last year’s Tour order of merit winner, finished a shot back in third with Mark Phillips and promising teenager Oliver Betschart rounding off the top five at ten over.

Amateur Roberts was among the first group to tee off and was the clubhouse leader until professional Roy came in tied later among the second-last group.

The triumph was a first for both players who expressed their delight to have finally claimed victory on the Tour.

“It feels really good to get my first win on the Moongate Tour,” Roberts said.

“I am really excited about what this Tour means and the fact I was able to tie for first today is a great accomplishment.“These are some of the best golfers in Bermuda and for me to put my name up there with the best golfers on the island is a very good thing for me.

“I am happy with the way that I played and excited for what’s going to happen in the future with Bermuda golf.”

Roy, the Bermuda Professional Golf Association president, added: “It feels good to finally get one across the line.

“I am happy with the round today. I knew it was going to be hard with the weather that was rolling in at Port Royal and the back nine is a really good test.

“I have been working on the back end of my game and I can feel the results starting to pay off.

“I was hitting the ball really well and I played a lot of really good shots that even surprised me.

“It was good out there; I was calm, collected, didn’t try to force anything and again I hit the ball really well, so I am really pleased with that.”