Created: Apr 19, 2026 08:14 PM (Updated: Apr 19, 2026 08:14 PM)
Oliver Betschart proudly displays the trophy after winning the Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championship for the first time (Photograph supplied)
Oliver Betschart became one of the youngest players to win the Bermuda Amateur Match Play Championship at Port Royal Golf Course on Sunday.
The 17-year-old defeated rival James Godwin 3 & 2 in the Men’s Championship Division final to capture a maiden title at his third attempt.
“It feels great to win,” Betschart told The Royal Gazette.
“I tried last year and Kenny Leseur beat me in the semi-final, so I got my redemption this year. I was able to win all the matches and got the victory, which was really nice.”
Having come up short last year, Betschart was all the more determined to get his hands on the coveted trophy this time around.
Oliver Betschart was steady with the putter on the way to victory at Port Royal (Photograph supplied)
“There was a picture in the back of my mind of Kenny with the trophy on the 18th hole last year and I just pictured myself there as well, and I think that image got me through,” he said.
Betschart’s consistency with the putter throughout the three-day tournament ultimately paid off.
“I didn’t have my best putting week this week but I was able to stay consistent,” he said.
“I didn’t make many putts, but I also didn’t have any three putts so no big numbers on the scorecard.”
Patience was also a key factor in the teenager’s successful title bid at the Southampton golf course.
“I just stayed patient out there, which in match play is one of the biggest things,” he said.
“You have to think that if you make par on this hole then you’re forcing your opponent to make birdie to win the hole.
“I just played it like that and was able to stay steady and be patient. Even when I was down a couple I was able to fight my way back by not getting too aggressive but being able to stay in it.
“There is slight changes between stroke play and match play, but all in all you just want to get the ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible.”
Senior Men’s Championship winner Christopher Phillips receives the trophy from Bermuda Golf Association general secretary Darrin Lewis (Photograph supplied)
Also claiming a maiden title at Port Royal this year was Christopher Phillips, who beat rival Alec Anderson 2 & 1 in the Senior Men’s Championship final.
Phillips managed to overcome a slow start and go on to seal the deal.
“It was a tough match and he had me down for a little while, but then I started pulling him back on the back nine,” said Phillips, who eliminated top seed Sheldon Chychrun in the quarter-finals on the way to the title.
“I took on a couple of good putts and a few birdies here and there and managed to get myself back into position.
“We were fighting all the way right up until 17 and I hit a nice third shot right in close and that sealed the deal right there.
“This is my first time winning this tournament. I had never played in the match play in the senior division, so I said ‘let me give it a whirl’ and it worked out OK.”
This year’s tournament featured only the Men’s Championship and Senior Men’s Championship as organisers were forced to cancel the ladies’ event due to low numbers owing to scheduling conflicts with other tournaments and players travelling overseas.
