Camiko Smith is looking forward to the challenge of defending his Johnnie Walker Classic title at Ocean View Golf Course over the weekend.

The experienced professional added to an already impressive list of honours by winning the 36-hole tournament for the first time by two-shots at the Devonshire course last year.

Smith held a share of the lead with fellow professional Nick Jones heading into the final round and pulled away from the rest of the pack after producing a flawless 66 that included four birdies.

He will now be hoping to pick up where he left off and make a flying start in his title defence. He feels good about his form heading into today’s opening round.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge and my game feels solid right now,” Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“I have been working hard on improving my game since DP World Tour qualifying and I’m feeling confident in my form heading into the weekend.”

While Smith feels confident in his ability, he knows he has his work cut out competing against a field also including fellow professionals Daniel Augustus, the 2020 champion, Scott Roy, Chaka DeSilva and Jones, who are expected to be in contention.

“Every tournament is a fresh task and I know the field will be very competitive,” he said.

“My focus will be on sticking to my process, staying patient and giving myself the best chance to succeed. If I do that, I believe I have a strong shot at retaining the title.”

Jones is also in good form and hoping to go one better and win the tournament this time around.

“I came second last year so hopefully I’m looking forward to seeing if I can get that win. It will be a great opportunity to sharpen my skills before the Butterfield Bermuda Championship qualifier,” he said.

Jones has plenty of momentum heading into the tournament having finished tied for first with amateurs Oliver Betschart and Jamie MacMillan at one-under in the penultimate round of the Gosling’s Moongate Tour at Ocean View last weekend in his previous outing.

“I am really looking forward to competing and hopefully the finish at the Gosling’s Moongate Tour will help me to get ready for the Johnnie Walker Classic,” he said.

Betschart, 17, is ineligible to compete this weekend after tournament organisers raised the minimum age required to compete to 18.

The promising player, who has already achieved four victories this year competing at home and overseas, was low amateur in 2023 and fourth last year.

Also missing out this year is Moongate Tour Order of Merit champion Dwayne Pearman.

The highly decorated professional finished third in last year’s tournament, but will not be back this year because he is nursing a back injury.

Another noticeable absentee is professional Kenny Leseur, who holds pole position in the Moongate Tour Order of Merit.

This year’s field also boasts top amateurs Jarryd Dillas, the 2021 champion, and Damian Palanyandi, who could pose a threat to Smith’s title hopes.

Palanyandi, who finished fifth last year, has adopted a low-key approach heading into the event.

“I’ll be playing with no pressure or expectations on myself,” he said. “Just going to to stick to the process, accept the outcome and move on.”

The field also includes female golfers Tariqah Walikraam and Ebonie Cox, who have already proven they can hold their own competing against their male counterparts.

Cox is using the tournament as an ideal warm-up for her upcoming appearance on the Sapphire Golf Tour in the United States.

“It’s a good warm-up and keeps me focused for the Sapphire,” she said.

“The big picture is representation for me and expectations are to just continue to get better every event.

“Better for me is not score, but how I manage myself on the course. That’s what I’m focusing on for this weekend.”

Cox made tournament history in 2022 when she became the first woman golfer to compete in the event.