Without anyone having teed off, this weekend?s Bermuda Amateur Strokeplay Championships seem destined to be a battle among certain persons.

On the men?s side, it would appear that it?s going to be the young guns versus more seasoned players while two of the Island?s leading juniors are tipped to take the women?s crown.

Though golf can be unpredictable at times, tournament director Rick Bartlett expects certain names to be in contention come Monday?s final round.

?I would expect Dave Allison who won the men?s Amateur Match Play in March to be up there in the men. Also the chap he beat in that final, Anthony Mocklow, is flying back from the UK to compete.

?Then there?s Nick Mansell who has been a perennial high finisher and is the course superintendent at Port Royal.?

Despite picking these guys to top the leaderboard, he cautioned that talented youngsters like defending champion Fraser Hunt and his World Team Championship partners Jarryd Dillas and Eric West could not be overlooked in the 72-hole event which starts on Friday at Port Royal Golf Club.

One notable absentee is Robert Vallis who has won the tournament on several occasions.

In the ladies? competition, Kim Botelho?s decision not to defend her title ? after recently having a baby ? has paved the way for the likes of Ebonie Burgess and Laura Robinson. Her peers for the World Team Championship will head a 12-woman line-up in the 54-hole tournament that tees off on Saturday.

?I would think that it?s between Ebonie and Laura. The other potential favourite is Susie Elton who is Australian but has been here for a few years,? reckoned Bartlett, adding there were all local entries on the women?s side.

Meanwhile, Allison played down his chances of success, stating he has not swung a club recently.

?I have been away and I haven?t picked up a golf club for over two weeks so I?m not really that confident about my chances to be honest,? he said, though he will be out hitting some balls tomorrow evening in an effort to get used to his new clubs.

His circumstances, he pointed out, could yet prove a positive.

?It might work to my advantage because in the past when I?ve thought I had a reasonable chance I?ve got a bit edgy and worked up about things. But this time I don?t think I stand much chance ? even though I won the Match Play and it would be nice to do well in the Strokeplay ? so I might be more relaxed and not too concerned at all.

?You never know it could all come together.?

Another factor in Allison?s favour is that Port Royal is his home course and he should be familiar with the greens despite not practising much of late. He too listed Dillas, Hunt, West, Mocklow and Mansell as the likely frontrunners.

?Any one of those could win,? he declared, mulling over the 58-man field.

That number is up from last year when only 42 men entered while there are two fewer women this time.

Bartlett predicted Port Royal would be ?in reasonable shape? for the tournament though ?the weather hasn?t helped too much?.

?Port Royal has to depend on rain as they don?t have an abundance of water for irrigation,? he explained.