Pros boast they won't let amateurs win a match

I’ve been watching a bit of the World Cup these past few days and it seems to me that it is getting more and more difficult to predict who the winners are going to be simply by looking at names on a piece of paper. 

So often a result will be predicted based on who is in the team and, more often than not, a so-called upset will turn up.

Look at what’s happened so far in the World Cup.  A respected financial institution forecast that there was a 59 per cent likelihood that Italy would reach the Round of 16 and a 49 per cent likelihood that France would as well. 

How wrong they were, and while football is not their core business, one can only wonder about the accuracy of their other forecasts.

It seems to me that the forecasting skills of those signing up to play in the upcoming Romay Trophy and Bermuda Cup matches are similarly flawed. 

In early August, the Bermuda Cup will be played at Port Royal and will pit 12 of Bermuda’s top amateurs against 12 of Bermuda’s professional players, with each match worth one point. 

Six and a half points will be required to win the Bermuda Cup and one of Bermuda’s professionals has recently claimed that his side will win 12 points. 

This individual normally comes across as a rather intelligent human being but clearly he has lost his marbles somewhere along the way. 

After all, it is quite clear to any of Bermuda’s golfers that the professional side will struggle to win more than three matches.  In fact, unless they get out there and start to practice a bit, they may not win that many.

Romay Trophy

It’s the same with the Romay Trophy, which will also be played in early August at Port Royal. 

Two of Bermuda’s leading amateurs are the captains of the two teams that will compete for the Romay Trophy where a team from the East will battle against a team from the West. 

The Romay Trophy will use the 20-point match play system with teams of two players from the East playing their better ball against teams of two players from the West. 

It is expected that there will be around 24 players in both Romay teams meaning there will be twelve 20-point matches on the go to determine which side will win the Romay Trophy. 

Players wishing to play are already registering their interest by signing up with Scott Roy at the Bermuda Golf Association office. 

Based on sign ups to date, I understand that the team from the East is going to cause the team from the West some serious injuries. 

Based upon the information that I have received, it would be in the West’s best interest to ensure that the St. John’s ambulance brigade is close at hand to provide first aid.

Those wishing to play in the Romay Trophy should register their interest with Scott Roy at the Bermuda Golf Association.