Port Royal Golf Course assistant pro Dwayne Pearman has been promoted to head professional following the sudden departure of Eric West.

Pearman takes over the reins after his predecessor left under controversial circumstances, claiming internal pressure had forced him out.

West had been appointed less than three months earlier under equal controversy, some of his fellow Bermudian pros claiming he had not met the job requirements as advertised by Government.

Considered by far the most talented player in Bermuda for many years before the emergence of Michael Sims, Pearman will likely prove to be a popular choice.

He served as assistant pro to Frankie Rabain at the Southampton course between 1986 and 1993 before taking up the head pro position at Ocean View in 1995 where he worked until 2007.

Previously the 47-year-old said he was happy to take over the assistant role at Port Royal as he prepared for taking a shot at qualification for the Champions Tour (over 50s).

However, those plans will be put on the back burner.

Pearman said yesterday his promotion "had not yet sunk in."

"It's happened quickly," he said. "Initially there will be a lot to do and I won't be playing too much as things get organised.

"I had thought about the Senior Tour but we'll have to see.

"To be honest I enjoy watching my son play, and I try to help him."

His son, Dwayne jr. is a shining star in the Bermuda Junior Golf Association, having won his age division in last week's tournament on the Ross (Blackie) Talbot Summer Tour at Riddell's Bay.

A former Bermuda Open champion and a multiple winner of the Bermuda Professional Golfers Association Championships, Pearman will now be heavily involved in preparations for the PGA of America Grand Slam which takes place at Port Royal next month.

West last week lambasted club officials who he claimed had forced him out.

He's now taken a job with a brokering firm with his father, Bermuda Golf Association president Terry West.

"The job wasn't going the way I wanted it to go, and on top of other things it was time for me to quit," he said. "It's complicated, but some people in the management thought that the job I was supposed to do wasn't the job I thought I should be doing.

"For me, a club professional plays golf with the members, gives lessons to the members, runs events at the club, travels to certain tournaments and shows, and is an ambassador for the golf club.

"They wanted me to be a receptionist, a cashier, and an administrator, and were always giving me a hard time about teaching.

"It seems to me that very few professionals in Bermuda actually spend time teaching and playing, and are actually more like administrators, and I have absolutely no interest in doing that."

Director of Golf Andrew Brooks, however, said he was sorry to see West depart.

"Eric had, still has, a lot of potential, he was a good coach, an excellent player, and we made our choice based also on the fact that Eric would have been a good ambassador for Port Royal," said Brooks.

West, meanwhile, claimed confidential information had been leaked over an incident during a recent tournament when a ball he hit allegedly struck a Port Royal member. It's understood that matter has yet to be resolved.

"To release internal documents was unethical, and illegal," said West. "Now there are questions being asked at Port Royal because there are some very sensitive budget documents in the same place, and if this person can release these details, then what's to stop him doing it again?"

n Fraser Hunt fired an impressive one-over par 72 as Bermuda Golf Association held their monthly medal at Port Royal on Saturday – the first time BGA members had competed on the course since it underwent a $14 million renovation.

Under windy conditions, Hunt led the way followed by Jun Hardart who carded 75.

Playing off the men's tees, the ladies were led by Tracey Nash who shot 91, followed by Katyna Rabain (94).

The next BGA medal will be the season opener, a team event to be held on September 20 at Riddell's Bay.

See Scoreboard for Saturday's full results.