HAMPSHIRE under-18s narrowly missed out on a third consecutive English County Final, finishing three shots behind Essex at a South East qualifier played at Copthorne Golf Club, in Kent.

Two north Hampshire golfers, Billy Watson and Chris Blunden, were in the Hampshire team. Sandford Springs golfer Blunden shot the fifth-best score on the day, carding rounds of 76 (+5) and 68 (-3) to finish on +2, while Watson, who lives in Sherborne St John, finished on +6 after rounds of 71 (par) and 77 (+6).

Test Valley’s James Sankey and Hartley Wintney’s Henry Doyle both represented the county in a triangular under-14 tournament against Essex and Hertfordshire at Weybrook Park.

Hampshire beat both of their opponents 6.5-5.5 to claim victory on the day, while Sankey won both of his matches. Doyle beat his opponent from Essex, but was unable to get the better of his Hertfordshire foe.