Jarryd Dillas and Tracy Burgess will begin the defence of their Bermuda Amateur Stroke Play Championship titles at Port Royal Golf Course today (11.30am).

Dillas has his work cut defending his men’s crown against a strong field that includes the likes of Eric West, Daniel Holland, Will Haddrell, Mikus Ming, and rising talents Dylan Muso, Arman Newton and Johnny Bart.

Missing among the field is Oliver Betschart, whose triumph in the Bermuda Match Play Championship earned him an exemption into the prestigious North & South Men’s Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina, which is also being held this weekend.

Likewise, the in-form Burgess is also defending her women’s title among a formidable field that includes Sienna Mosquera, who is fresh off a good collegiate season, along with Morgan Lightbourne and veterans Katrin Burnie, Linda Down, Ann Symonds and Tracy Nash.

Kim Botelho, the 2024 champion, is back from a lengthy absence and could also potentially pose a threat to Burgess’s title aspirations.

Teenager Darina Betschart is absent from this year’s women’s field as she is representing a Bermuda Golf Association select at the Caribbean Junior Amateur Championship in the Dominican Republic.

A new senior men’s champion will be crowned this year as Nick Fernandez has not returned to defend his title.

Among those expected to be in the hunt for the vacant title are former winners Robert Vallis, Arthur Jones and Hav Trott.

Locals Sheldon Chychrun, Steven Perry and Alec Anderson and frequent visitor Tony Ravenda have produced some consistent rounds this season, and could also potentially be in contention for honours.

The First Flight Division will consist of 36 holes to be played tomorrow and Sunday. The first flight has 18 participants, which includes some very low handicaps that should make the competition extremely tight at the top of the leaderboard.

The Junior Division has eight participants playing 36 holes today and tomorrow, with Bradford Laing, Joshua Cann and Grayson Tavares, who has just returned from boarding school, among the field.

Newcomer Kolton Matthews is making his debut in a local tournament and could also be in the hunt for the title.