Hampshire Challenge League come up just shy in end of year show down

Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Champion Sam Parsons could not match Croker's four as he sank his birdie with a 12-foot downhiller with plenty of break, sending the Essex team home jubilant, while the losers had a long journey back to the South Coast.

Croker had seen his ball skid on to the putting surface having caught the top of the bunker guarding the first, as both players made four to take the match down the 18th.

A rueful Rob Wheeler, from North Hants GC, who was part of the first-team that beat Essex a week ago, said: “The contrast with winning the men's league last weekend - when we denied them the English and South East double - and being beaten like that, could not be greater.

“That really hurts. Hopefully we can all learn from the experience, and it will help our games going forward.”

The old Colts League, which was replaced last year by the Channel League - that has no age restrictions unlike its predecessor - had finished in a 6-6 tie seven times since its inception in 1969, with five of those stalemates coming between 2002 and 2015.

But with plenty of daylight left for once, the traditional October final was decided after each team nominated a player for a sudden-death shoot-out under new rules agreed at last season's AGM of England Golf's South Eastern Group.

Hampshire captain Harrison Pake fielded three North Hants players in his eight-man team, who were held 6-6 at Wensum Valley Golf, Hotel & Country Club, near Norwich, including county Order of Merit winner Rob Wheeler, who won the Hampshire Open last month.

Wheeler, who had been pegged back on the last by Croker for a half in the morning foursomes - and then narrowly lost the top singles match 2&1, having been sent out first as normal - could not believe Hampshire's luck.

He said: “Sam had a six-footer to win on 17 in regulation that slipped by. He needed just a half to win outright and give us the trophy on the 18th.

“His opponent hit his tee shot on to the first hole on Wensum's other course - but there was no out-of-bounds surprisingly.

“The Essex guy hit his third into the par-five to a matter of inches, while Sam - who hit the perfect drive - was left with a 15-footer for birdie which just missed.”

After Wheeler was beaten, North Hants' James Atkins triumphed 3&2 against Hobbs thanks to three birdies in the final five holes, but Beeston was given a lesson by Croker, who won 6&5.

Pake had led from the front to win 6&5 against Callum Newsom and when Hodgetts quickly followed in with a 5&4 win over former Essex U14 Champion Louis Vallis, the match was tied at 41/2-41/2 before the real drama unfolded.

Ex-Portsmouth FC Academy player Rich Harris, the 2020 county champion, was three-up with three to play in the anchor match against Zac Taylor, and his Hayling foursomes partner Joe Foster, two-down playing the 17th against Dominic Piccollo, the only survivor from the Essex team that beat Hampshire 7-5 at Mill Hill, 12 months ago.

Pake's team were gathered by the last two holes as Foster lost 2&1 to take the final into a play-off just as Harris won 3&2.

Hampshire Golf assistant secretary Chris Harrison, who was with the team that won the South East League crown for the second year in a row at Northwood GC last weekend, revealed: “The team discussed at lunchtime who would fancy it, if it went to a play-off.

“Everyone looked at Sam, as our county champion. A couple of the boys, including James, and our captain, said they would do it, but everyone agreed it should be Sam, who had played really well in the foursomes with Harrison.

“The decision had to be confirmed to the organisers after the match had ended in a draw, and we all felt it was still the right decision.

“Sam hit an incredible drive past Charlie's on the first after losing the toss for the honour, and then saw Croker's ball bounce on to the green when it could have easily gone in the bunker, before losing to a birdie.

“The rules were changed last year to allow for a play-off in the event of a tie, and it certainly added to the drama and excitement. It was certainly a spectacle at the death.

“I think most of us accept sharing the trophy after a tie is a bit of an anti-climax, but losing the final having played so well is very cruel.

“Hopefully that will motivate everyone to come back and win it next year.”

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