The absence of last year's finalists -- defending champion Scott Mayne of Bermuda and American Joel Hirsch, who was the winner in 1993 -- has left the 66th Bermuda Men's Amateur Championship wide open when it begins today with the qualifying round at Mid Ocean Golf Club.

Both Mayne and Hirsch are unavailable this year as is another former champion, Doug Hirsch, leaving a field of 42 locals and 38 visitors with their sights set on the main prize when the matchplay event kicks into gear tomorrow.

Matchplay finals are scheduled for Saturday, including the 36-hole championship final.

Local Robert Vallis, himself a winner in 1990 and '92, will lead the local contenders alongwith Henry Ascento. Both of them are scratch players. Another to watch is three handicapper Hav Trott, alongwith the likes of Malcolm Burgess, Bill Pitt, Jr, Eldon Raynor and Jack Wahl.

There are a number of top contenders among the visiting contingent, including scratch players Christian Chernock and Wayne Walker of Connecticut, Cy Kilgore of Massachusetts and Jody Vasquez of Texas. Playing off one handicaps are Paul Erdardt of Atlantic City, New Jersey, Michael Thompson of Tennessee, Carl Tuke, Jr. of Ohio and Michael Williford of North Carolina.

The majority of the overseas players hail from the United States, but there are also four Canadians, an Englishman and two Germans.