Bell, who outlasted Craig Doell and Brock Holland in a playoff last year, will tee off in the third group of the day at 2:48 p.m. at Victoria Golf Club, along with Chris Westlake and Mike Belleau before the scene switches to Cordova Bay Golf Course for Round 2 on Sunday.
Keaton Gudz, Nolan Thoroughgood and Peter Jawl form the opening threesome at VGC at 2:30 p.m., followed nine minutes later by Kevin Carrigan, Sean Hay and Doell as 43 players tee it up.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檓 there for,鈥� Bell said of the chance to defend. 鈥淚鈥檓 playing pretty well. I鈥檓 hitting it well. If I can get some putts to go in, everything should take care of itself.鈥�
The 22-year-old certainly doesn鈥檛 feel pressure heading in.
鈥淚鈥檝e already won it once, why not win it again, right? I鈥檝e just got to get through Nolan and Keaton,鈥� he said of the two Royal Colwood juniors who are playing extremely well early into the season. 鈥淭hose young guys are playing some pretty good golf.鈥�
Bell鈥檚 victory in 2016 snapped a two-year run by Carrigan. Holland won the event in 2013 after Doell claimed his fourth crown in 11 years in 2012. Doell has five men鈥檚 zone championships to his name, winning his first in 1995 before waiting until 2002 to add his second.
Ben Griffin won his second zone amateur in 2011 after Brent Wilson had claimed the trophy in 2010.
The senior men鈥檚 championship is also on the line over the two days at VGC and Cordova Bay.
鈥淚 played Victoria on Tuesday,鈥� said Bell. 鈥淚mmaculate conditions. It was awesome. If the wind is not blowing it鈥檚 definitely gettable, but when it is, par is a really good number out there. I have no expectations. I鈥檓 just going to show up and see what the weather gives us. That鈥檚 what you鈥檝e got to bank on out there.鈥�
鈥� Meanwhile, the Zone 5 women鈥檚 championship is still accepting applicants for its event, which is slated for June 5-6 at Highland Pacific and Gorge Vale Golf Club.
There are three categories in the tournament 鈥� amateurs, seniors and a handicap division.
Among those to compete will be defending amateur champion Akari Hayashi and veterans Penny Baziuk of Ardmore and Alison Murdoch of Victoria Golf Club. Last year鈥檚 winner in the handicap division, Marianne Hunt of Cowichan Golf Club, will also return to defend her title.
The closing dates for entrants is Wednesday and interested players can go online to enter at bcgazone5.org.
