The Bermuda Open will regain some of its former prestige next month with double last year?s prize money and tour exemptions available for the winner.

The tournament, which takes place again at Port Royal from October 12-15, could see at least $60,000 in the prize pool, twice as much as last year.

Michael Sims, who set a tournament record on his way to winning the $7,500 first prize last year, is set to return as is PH Horgan III, winner in 2003, 2004 and back in 1985.

An assortment of other players with Nationwide or Canadian Tour experience, as well as a field of locals led by Dwayne Pearman, are also set to take part in the revamped event.

?We?re pleased that we have been able to secure sponsorships which should significantly increase prize money for this, our flagship event,? said Bob Legere, president of Bermuda Golf Association.

?We are hoping to be able to offer a prize fund of around $60,000, which is as high as the tournament prize was in its heyday.

?It has taken a lot of work but we have a few new ideas related to the event and we are trying to push it as hard as we can.?

As well as the increased prize money, a deal is understood to have been struck with the Mid-Atlantic section of the PGA of America, which could mean exemptions into American events or their final qualifiers for the Bermuda winner.

And a reciprocal arrangement is also in the pipeline whereby players on events in the States could be able to earn an invitation to the Port Royal tournament.

The increased prestige for next month?s event is a huge boost for the BGA who have had their share of issues with both Government and the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association in relation to their main tournament of the year.

It is understood some help has been given by Government for this year?s event, in contrast to last year when Legere was publicly critical of Tourism Minister Dr. Ewart Brown for attempting to bring in a $3.5 million LPGA tournament to the Island rather than concentrate on promoting the Bermuda Open.

Legere will be away the week of the Open as he will be attending the World Amateur Team Championships in South Africa.

And David Smith, who was controversially only allowed into the team for that event after sending a letter of apology to the BGA following a club-hurling incident during the Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships, has now pulled out of the three-man team.

Smith, whose final round histrionics in that event were labelled ?totally unacceptable? by Legere, has been forced to pull out because of ?educational commitments?.

The youngster will be replaced by Nick Mansell, who was one place behind Smith in the standings, and will join Robert Vallis and William Haddrell as well as Ebonie Burgess, Laura Robinson and Katyna Rabain in the event which is split between the Stellenbosch Golf Club and the De Zalze Country Club.

Dave Allison combined with Laura Robinson to win the BGA?s annual Mixed Foursomes Championships at Tucker?s Point GC over the weekend, returning a two-round total of 139, one shot ahead of Leroy Burch and Katyna Rabain.

Saturday?s best-ball format was followed by play under the Pinehurst system yesterday.

UK-based amateur Anthony Mocklow took third place with Jeanne Atherden while the net title went to Cleveland Smith and Relda Wellman with a 137 total.

The tournament had been put back a week following Hurricane Florence.