Charlie Manning stars for Hampshire (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Charlie Manning stars for Hampshire

1:00pm Wednesday 19th September 2012 in Sport By John Boyman

TEENAGE golfer Charlie Manning helped Hampshire to third place at the English Boys’ County Finals.

Basingstoke youngster Manning was one of six players who made up the Hampshire team for the event but their hopes of glory were ended on the opening day.

Playing Staffordshire in the semi-finals, Manning partnered James Mist in the morning foursomes. The pair lost by two holes and Hampshire trailed 2-1 at lunchtime, but Manning was on top form in the afternoon.

Playing Daniel Whitby-Smith in the singles, the Basingstoke player birdied holes eight and nine to go two up, only to be pegged back on the back nine. The match went down to the final hole but Manning held his nerve to sink a six-foot birdie putt and win it.

Despite this, Hampshire lost the match 5-4, meaning that they contested the third and fourth place play-off against Devon the following day.

The foursomes saw Manning partner Mist once more, but this time the pair were able to win their match 3&1. The teams were level overall going into the singles – but Hampshire were too good in the afternoon, winning four of the six matches to claim third place. Manning was a comfortable winner, beating Ryan Pope 4&3.

Manning followed up this success by winning Sherfield Oaks’ men’s club championship. The teenager shot a one-under-par round on day one to be placed second, while a level par round on the second day was enough to earn him the victory.