A total of 42 golfers from the Island’s clubs will be vying for the honour of winning the Island crown at the Royal Jersey Golf Club.
Entries have again been oversubscribed and golfers on seven handicap and above have been balloted out – a good indication of the improved strength in depth of Island golf.
At the top end of the entries there are two players playing off plus-2 handicap, two players off plus-1 and one off scratch – a great achievement for the Island.
The Grouville course is in excellent condition with the greens playing fast and true.
However players are warned to keep the ball straight and on the fairways as the rough is long and punishing.
The course will be a true test of golf and the winner will be a worthy representative in the inter-island final against Guernsey’s Bobby Eggo at Royal Jersey on Sunday 19 June.
The Jersey challenge will be led by current champion Paul Le Chevalier.
Le Chevalier, who narrowly missed the cut for the matchplay stages at the British Amateur Championship on Tuesday, has returned to form at just the right time and has reduced his handicap back down to plus-2.
Closely behind is last year’s runner up Gavin O’Neill who, yesterday, made the BAC cut but was eliminated in his first matchplay match.
O’Neill has performed consistently over the last year and has also reduced his handicap to plus-2.
James Birch (+1) and Christy McLaughlin (0) will both fancy their chances of winning the title on their home course.
McLaughlin has returned to his best form winning last week’s Tuesday Evening League with a gross 65.
Royal Jersey 20-year-old Matthew Parkman is another capable of lifting the title for the first time.
The three-times Junior Golfer of the Year said: ‘I’d love to win the Island title and it’s not beyond me.
‘My form is good and I am more motivated than ever.
I’ve certainly not given up on turning professional in the future.
Many current pros on the circuit were not youngsters when they went professional and that’s my aim too.’ The La Moye Challenge is led by former champion Richard Ramskill.
He has returned some fine scores already this year and has reduced his handicap to plus-1.
The tough conditions will suit his consistent play.
Others in the running from La Moye include Richard’s father Geoff who is enjoying the best golf of his career following his début for the Island last September.
Another father-and-son pair could also perform well, Nigel Mansell (1) and son Greg (3) are both in good form as proven by their performances in La Moye’s recent victory over Royal Jersey in the Kutch Cup.
Several juniors are also competing including Seb Brown (4) and Kieron Goodricke (5) and Gyles Robin (5).
This year is the first Championship to be sponsored by HSBC and the winner will be invited to the HSBC Amateur Matchplay Championship to be held in the UK in September.
Jersey Golf Union secretary Rob Leader said: ‘It promises to be another excellent weekend of golf.
We are delighted to have HSBC as sponsors at the premier JGU event and we look forward to a long relationship with them.’ Competition starts on Friday morning with 36 holes qualifying before the last 16 go into the matchplay format on Saturday and Sunday.
