Jarryd Dillas will start the defence of his Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championship at Port Royal Golf Course today.

The 33-year-old is gunning for his third straight win and seventh overall, and is once again the clear favourite going into the event.

Dillas comes in with a bit of form, having put in a good performance while representing Bermuda at the World Amateur Team Championships in Maynooth, Ireland, last month.

“I’m playing really well and had a good showing at Worlds in Ireland with Walker Campbell and Mikus Ming,” he said. “I really enjoyed that.

“I’m feeling confident with my game and looking forward to the weekend.”

As the defending champion, Dillas is the automatic No 1 seed and will play No 8 seed Spencer Young in his opening match.

“A bit disappointed that we don’t have a bigger field,” Dillas said. “But it’s about going out and trying to beat the field and the players that are in front of you, so I will give it my best and hope for a good result come Sunday.”

Dillas has been presented with a different challenge this year of defending his title away from his “home course” at Mid Ocean Club, which he attributes some of his success at the event to.

“I have obviously benefited from it [championships] being down at Mid Ocean with it being my home course,” he said.

“I’ve had a much better record there than I’ve had in the Stroke Play by contrast, which is up at Port Royal, so it will be interesting to see how it goes over the next couple of days.

“A few of the players in the field are members at Port Royal and are more familiar and comfortable on it.”

Today’s remaining matches will have No 2 seed Matt Gorrell, the top qualifier during qualifying at Port Royal, facing No 7 seed Adam Petty, third seed Scott Barnett going against No 6 Julian Brassington, and No 4 Michael McCrimmon taking on fifth seed Spencer Wideman.

Dillas and Young will tee off first at 7.20am.

Because of insufficient players, both the senior men’s and women’s divisions have been cancelled this year.

“It’s been tough for the Bermuda Golf Association to try and revitalise the Match Play Championships, which was very popular at one time,” said Dillas, who serves on the Bermuda Golf Association’s executive.

“When it was held midweek, obviously people had to make decisions to take time off from work, which is much more difficult these days.

“Then when you put something over a weekend, you’re asking people to take up their entire weekend, and that can be difficult with family and personal commitments — that is the challenge for the association moving forward.”