The Bermuda Golf Association (BGA) is set to launch its 2026 campaign this Saturday, January 10th, with the opening Monthly Medal of the year at the challenging Tucker’s Point Club.
As the first ranking event of the new year, the tournament offers players the chance to set an early pace in the Order of Merit, following a 2025 season defined by dominant performances and rising junior stars.
Damian Palanyandi, who has become the man to beat in the Monthly Medal series, will miss the opener. The likes of Jarryd Dillas, Oliver Betschart, and Arman Newton will be the ones looking forward to starting the year with a win.
The Men’s First Flight is expected to be a tight contest, with the likes of Mark Ray and Paul Egan looking to overturn Palanyandi’s dominance. Both players were models of consistency last year, frequently pushing the lead and securing a joint win at Belmont Hills late in the season.
In the Ladies Flight, Tracy Burgess enters the season as the clear favourite. Burgess enjoyed a trophy-laden 2025, claiming victory in nearly every BGA monthly event from Mid Ocean to Belmont. However, the emergence of teenage sensation Darina Betschart, who stunned the field with a win at Turtle Hill last February, suggests a new rivalry may be brewing at the top of the women's game.
Tucker’s Point is renowned for its undulating fairways and slick greens, which famously played host to blustery, challenging conditions during last year's January opener. With tee times scheduled to begin on Saturday morning, the field of roughly 40 golfers will be hoping the Atlantic winds stay at bay for the first 18 holes of 2026.
Click Here to see the Full 2026 January Monthly Medal Tee Times
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