An injury to Jersey title holder Sam Quail caused the postponement of their showdown last summer, so it is a match that is a long time in the making, but the Guernsey champion is welcoming the opportunity to play for the trophy against an opponent he admits he is unfamiliar with.
‘I’ve never even seen Sam play, really, apart from hitting one shot in the CI match [against Hampshire last October],’ Marley said.
‘He is a member of Royal Jersey as well, so it’s less of a home match for him than it would be around there [Grouville].
‘I’ve played there quite a few times. I’m obviously going to be the underdog going to Jersey, but it should be relatively OK. I’m looking forward to it.
‘La Moye is one of my favourites in the Channel Islands, for sure. I’d like to say it suits my game quite well. I’ve played quite a few times and played well there a couple of years ago in the junior inter-insular, so I’d like to replicate that sort of form.’
The role of Island champion has grown on Marley, who revealed his confidence on the course has increased since claiming his maiden title in sensational style last May, when a morning round of 66 set him up for an impressive 4 & 3 victory over two-time winner Tom Le Huray.
However, looking back on that triumph, he remembers being shocked by his rapid rise through the local ranks.
‘I kind of felt a bit like impostor syndrome at the start – sort of like the guy who just came into the Island team the year before and then came on and won the Island Champs.
‘It felt weird, putting yourself in the same bracket as those guys have won a won the Island Championship before and obviously with Conor [McKenna] the year before.
‘I always felt like I was a bit like too far off the pace to challenge and it was only my second time actually entering because it impacted with exams and all sorts before.
‘So I didn’t really have a chance to have a good run in it since I had a sort of a good turn in form in 2024.’
Considering a busy schedule that includes another appearance for the CI against Hampshire before his Guernsey title defence as well as this 2025 CI final, Marley is fully aware of his standing now.
But, of course, the immediate focus is on this weekend when he also faces the unusual scenario of a 36-hole match taking place across two days, with the first round teeing off at 3pm on Saturday before the players playing their second round first thing Sunday morning.
‘You have to try and approach this the same, I think. I tried to approach the one against Tom last May just as two separate 18 holes and separate it as much as I can.
‘I’ll try and go for the same thing this year, but obviously it will be weird sort of with a major break in between rounds.’
Marley also has his father Mick, a four-time CI finalist, to turn to for any advice.
However, he might opt against that as he divulged a family discussion.
‘My mum’s just been telling me what not to do. We were talking and my mum was reminding my dad where he’d lost – on what greens – for the CI finals before,’ said Marley junior with a chuckle.
