Hampshire captain Martin Young has challenged his 2 county colts from Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club to step up to the mark and force their way into his plans for next month’s English County Finals.
Ryan Harmer and Jordan Sundborg (featured photo) were paired together for Sunday’s final Daily Telegraph South East League match of the season against Surrey, as Hampshire finally recorded their first win of the season in the South Division at the fourth attempt.
The 91/2-21/2 victory was sweet for Young coming at his home club at Brokenhurst Manor – but his focus is firmly on picking a team to win the English County Championship for just the second time in Hampshire’s history.
Young said:
“The Mike Smith Memorial and Stoneham Trophy this weekend are a big chance for our younger players to prove I should be picking them to go to Sandwell.
“I have a good idea who I would like to take to the finals but our plans could change depending on a couple of people’s availability.
““One or two people have a chance to make a statement this weekend.”
Harmer knows the New Forest course very well having been a member there, and at Freshwater GC, while he was studying at Brockenhurst College.
Ryan, who reached the last 64 at the English Amateur at Ganton 2 weeks ago only to be beaten by the eventual runner-up, was 1 of only 2 players beaten in the 8 afternoon singles matches last weekend.
But he could not have played any better, having made an eagle at the second and 5 birdies – with only 1 blemish on the card against Surrey captain David Corben, from HIndhead, who was crowned county champion for the second year running in June.
Harmer lost on the last green, while Sundborg, who was knocked out in the third round at Ganton, beat Surrey junior Alfie Fox by 1 on the last hole.
Fox was on the receving end in the morning foursomes playing with Terry Nicholls, against the Shanklin pair, who claimed a 3&1 victory.
Now Young wants to see the pair contend in this weekend’s final strokeplay events before he names his team for the s finals at the West Bromwich club, from 23rd-25th September.
Harmer should relish playing in the Mike Smith Memorial Trophy at Brokenhurst on Saturday, after his sixth-place finish last year helped him wrap up the nett prize in last year’s Hampshire Order of Merit. And Sundborg shot a 66 there to lead qualifying after the first round at Brokenhurst, in last year’s Hampshire Amateur Championship,
Play then switches to Southampton’s parkland course for the 36-hole Stoneham Trophy with the best aggregate four round score earning the Solent Salver, which has never been won by an island-based player in its 23-year history.
