Wideman and Irby Weather the Storm to lead at Port Royal
Ladies Defending Champs in the Mix
IslandStats.com
Spencer Wideman and Derrick Irby navigated treacherous conditions to seize the early initiative on the opening day of the Bermuda 4-Ball Championship. Competing at the Port Royal Golf Course, a total field of 96 players—forming 42 teams—battled through heavy winds across three competitive divisions.
In the Men’s Division, the pairing of Wideman and Irby set a clinical pace, carding an impressive round of one-under-par 70 to lead the field. They face a formidable chasing pack, with the experienced duo of Jarryd Dillas and Damian Palanyandi sitting just one stroke back at even par. Trailing closely in third place are Jevon Roberts and Oliver Betschart, who finished the day at one-over par.
The Ladies’ Championship is currently led by Tracy Nash and Carine Brule, who produced a gritty round of five-over par 75 to take the top spot. The defending champion pairing of Ann Symonds and Tracy Burgess remain within striking distance, sitting just one shot back. Darina Betschart and Kathryn Lloyd-Hines occupy third place following a testing round of eight-over par.
Meanwhile, the Senior Men’s Division remains deadlocked at the summit. The teams of Sheldon Chychrun and George Hutchings, alongside Tim and Barry Brewer, are tied for the lead after carding rounds of five-over 76. They are closely pursued by retired athletes Mark Ray and Kyle Lightbourne, who sit just two shots back as the tournament moves into its final stages.
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Thomas & Hilgers Crowned Champions at Port Royal
IslandStats.com
The 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championships concluded in dramatic fashion at Port Royal Golf Course, with Alabama’s SJ Thomas and Arizona’s Aubrey Hilgers emerging from a world-class field to claim the coveted titles. On a final day where the famous coastal layout bared its teeth, both champions produced sub-par rounds to secure their victories.
Thomas, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, delivered a masterclass in final-round composure. A three-under par 68 propelled him to the summit of the leaderboard, making him the only player in the field to finish the tournament under par at two-under. His scorecard was a whirlwind of activity, featuring six birdies to offset a bogey and a double bogey, as he navigated the tricky back nine with clinical precision.
Georgia’s Charles David Beeson mounted a late charge with a matching 68 to finish second at three-over par. However, the local headlines were dominated by Bermuda’s Oliver Betschart, who finished in a tie for third at five-over par alongside Fletcher Finch. Betschart’s final-round even-par 71—comprising three birdies and twelve pars—delighted the home gallery and reinforced his status as one of the region's rising stars.
The Girls’ Division provided an equally enthralling finish as Aubrey Hilgers from Surprise, Arizona, broke away from a three-way overnight deadlock to claim the title. Hilgers carded a final-round one-under par 70, finishing with a total of eight-over par. Her steady round included four birdies and eleven pars, allowing her to pull away from her nearest competitors.
A two-way tie for second place saw Florida’s Annie Jin and Ohio’s Nikitha Suresh finish at ten-over par, as both struggled to match Hilgers' consistency in the blustery conditions.
It was a day of gritty performances for the remaining local contingent:
John Bart secured a top-five finish, ending in a tie for fifth at six-over par after a final-round 73. Arman Newton saved his best for last, firing a two-over par 73 to climb into a tie for 31st at 19-over par. In the Girls' field, Darina Betschart finished 22nd at 39-over par after a testing final round of 86.
As the curtain falls on another successful championships at Port Royal, the focus shifts to the future of these young athletes, many of whom have now earned significant exemptions for major international junior events. For Thomas and Hilgers, the road now leads back to the United States with two of junior golf's most prestigious trophies in their luggage.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Hunt & Lightbourne Master Turtle Hill in BGA Monthly Medal
Morgan Lightbourne
IslandStats.com
The Bermuda Golf Association hosted another high-stakes outing this weekend as the February Monthly Medal descended upon the manicured fairways of the Turtle Hill Golf Club. Known for its technical challenges and breathtaking coastal views, the venue provided a stern examination for the island’s top amateurs across all divisions.
In the Men's Championship Division, Fraser Hunt delivered a composed performance to secure the top spot on the leaderboard. Navigating the par-three layout with precision, Hunt carded a three-over par 57 to claim a three-shot victory. The battle for the runner-up position proved to be a far tighter affair, with Dan Roy and Alistair Lynch finishing locked together at six-over par. Ultimately, Roy’s 60 was enough to edge the scorecard countback to take second place, leaving Lynch in a respectable third.
The Ladies Division saw Morgan Lightbourne return to winning form following a string of podium finishes throughout the winter season. Lightbourne’s round of 13-over par 67 was sufficient to hold off a determined chasing pack and claim the February title. Much like the men’s event, the fight for the remaining podium places was inseparable. Linda Down and Ann Mitchell both finished their rounds at 16-over par 70, with Down eventually securing the second-place finish ahead of Mitchell in third.
The Senior Men’s Division, reserved for players aged 55 and over, was split into two competitive flights. In the First Flight, Christopher Phillips showed why he remains one of the island's most consistent senior performers, carding a six-over par 60 to lead the way. He was followed by Steven Duxbury, who finished two strokes back at eight-over par, while Sinclair Trott rounded out the top three with an 11-over par 65.
The Second Flight of the Senior division provided its own share of drama as David Roberts emerged victorious. Roberts finished the day at 17-over par 71, narrowly edging out Alan Lugo and Simon Benedek, who both finished a single stroke behind at 18-over par. Lugo was awarded second place via the tie-break, with Benedek taking third. The high level of competition across the flights reinforces Turtle Hill's reputation as a course where experience and short-game accuracy are paramount.
Closest to Pin #11 - Ladies: Morgan Lightbourne Closest to Pin #9 - Senior Men's: Aaron Adams Closest to Pin #6 Juniors: Arthur Cooper Closest to Pin #17 Men's: Ciaran Duffy
Men's Division
1st Flight
+03 Fraser Hunt +06 Dan Roy +06 Alistair Lynch +06 Ciaran Duffy +07 Paul Egan +07 Jarryd Dillas +07 Damian Palanyandi +11 David Soutter +12 James Caplice +13 Matt Hagerty +16 Ramsay Soutter +16 Fraser Steel +16 Sam Butler +22 Ryan Carruthers
2nd Flight
+14 Shawn Wade +15 Stefano Barioni +16 EJ Carreio +18 James Russell +37 Rui Pacheco
Women's Division
+13 Morgan Lightbourne +16 Linda Down +16 Ann Mitchell +17 Valerie Nearon +17 Sarah Dwyer +19 Ann Symonds +19 Rebecca Solayao +25 Christine Oldfield +27 Gursharn Harvey +36 Dianna Mitchell +37 Kimberly Lewis +46 Nancy Gosling +48 Dianna Armstrong
Senior Men's Division
Flight One
+06 Christopher Phillips +08 Steven Duxbury +11 Sinclair Trott +14 Walter Jackson +14 Geoffrey Piggott
2nd Flight
+17 David Roberts +18 Alan Lugo +18 Simon Benedek +19 Aaron Adams +27 Vincent Frith +28 Ed Frey +28 Ian Oldfield
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Finch Takes Command at Port Royal as Bermudians Stay in Hunt
IslandStats.com
The second round of the Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championships has delivered a significant shift in momentum at Port Royal Golf Course, with Alabama’s Fletcher Finch emerging as the new clubhouse leader. On a day where the Atlantic gusts continued to test the field's patience and precision, Finch produced a resilient even-par 71 to move into pole position heading into the final round.
Finch’s scorecard was a testament to the aggressive play required to navigate the coastal layout, featuring an adventurous five birdies balanced by five bogeys. His two-day total of even par gives him a slender advantage over his fellow Birmingham native and overnight leader, SJ Thomas. Thomas, who entered the day with the lead, struggled to find the same clinical touch that defined his opening round, carding a two-over par 73 to sit one shot back for the tournament.
The chasing pack is bolstered by Konner Kubica of Michigan, who sits in third place with a combined score of three-over par. However, the local gallery remains firmly focused on the top of the leaderboard as Bermuda’s John Bart continues to impress. Bart produced a second consecutive round of 74 to remain at four-over par, a performance that sees him in a tie for fourth place and well within striking distance of the leaders.
Fellow Bermudian Oliver Betschart is also firmly in the mix, sitting just one stroke behind Bart. Despite a testing three-over par second round, Betschart’s five-over par total is enough to keep him in a tie for sixth. Further down the field, Arman Newton moved into a tie for 34th following a second round of 78, leaving him at 17-over par for the championship.
The Girls' Division has descended into a fascinating three-way deadlock at the summit. Annie Jin, Aubrey Hilgers, and Nikitha Suresh are all inseparable at the top of the standings, with the trio tied at one-over par after thirty-six holes. The battle for the title appears set for a dramatic conclusion tomorrow as the three leaders look to navigate the pressure of a final-round pairing.
For the local interest in the women’s field, Darina Betschart remains in a tie for 19th place. Betschart carded her second consecutive round of 83 to sit at 24-over par, and she will be looking to capitalise on her knowledge of the tricky Port Royal greens to climb the standings during the final eighteen holes. With the championship delicately poised in both divisions, tomorrow’s final round promises to be a showcase of nerves and skill on one of the game's most iconic stages.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Local Stars Shine as International Field Battles Port Royal Winds
Leader SJ Thomas
IslandStats.com
The fourth annual Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championships got underway at the world-renowned Port Royal Golf Course this week, with an elite international field tackling the same challenging fairways that host the PGA Tour. Under a volatile mixture of sun, clouds, and testing wind conditions, 49 male and 27 female top-tier junior golfers completed their opening rounds, with local Bermudian talent firmly in the mix at the top of the leaderboard.
In the Men's Division, a two-way tie for the lead has emerged after a day of attritional golf. SJ Thomas, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, and Italy’s Andrea Birolini both mastered the breezy conditions to card impressive rounds of one-under par 70. Thomas displayed a high-risk, high-reward approach with four birdies balanced by three bogeys, while Birolini opted for a model of consistency, recording fifteen pars and just a single dropped shot during his eighteen holes.
The chasing pack is led by Fletcher Finch, another Birmingham native, who sits alone in third place after an even-par round. However, the local gallery had much to cheer about as a trio of players sit just two shots off the lead at two-over par. This fourth-place deadlock includes Florida’s Orlando Torres alongside Bermuda’s own Oliver Betschart and John Bart. Both Bermudians utilised their local knowledge of the Port Royal greens to stay within striking distance of the leaders, while the island's third representative, Arman Newton, struggled in the gusts to finish the day in a tie for 37th following an opening 81.
The Women’s Division is currently spearheaded by Maya Brown of Thousand Oaks, California, who navigated the coastal layout to finish the day at two-over par 73. Brown’s round was anchored by twelve pars and two birdies, giving her a slender two-shot advantage over Aspen Bikowski and Annie Jin, who share second place. A further shot back, a three-way tie for fourth includes Aubrey Hilgers, Nikitha Suresh, and Andie Greenberg, all of whom carded four-over par 75s.
For the local contingent in the women's field, Darina Betschart faced a difficult opening day on the exposed fairways. The Bermudian junior finished her first round with an 83, leaving her twelve-over par and in a tie for 19th place. With two rounds remaining and the Atlantic winds forecast to remain a factor, the leaderboard remains wide open as the field prepares for a pivotal moving day at the home of Bermudian golf.
