Cherry quick to praise Wheeler who quelled Kent revival in farewell win

Lawrence Cherry, County Captain, who is off to manage The Montgomerie GC Dubai, after 20 months as assistant manager at Fleet's North Hants GC - was not able to sit comfortably in his buggy as he watched the afternoon singles unfold at Wrotham Heath GC.

Hampshire had claimed the Daily Telegraph Salver for the first time in 11 years at another Sevenoaks course back in October, in Cherry's first season in charge - having become the youngest captain in the county's history aged just 27.

Lawrence could certainly enjoy his lunch after watching his men pick up 3.5 points in the four foursomes matches - thanks to the "drive of his life" from North Hants member Robert Wheeler.

The Aldershot ace, who recently graduated from Cornwall's Tournament Golf College, had lost his place in the team under Cherry for the first time since his league debut against Kent a year ago, at Liphook GC.

He answered an 11th hour call from Cherry after Jersey's Jo Hacker - winner of the 2021 Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship at North Hants - got stuck at the airport as his flight was delayed several times and eventually cancelled.

Hampshire were 3-0 up - but losing the last game when Wheeler smashed his drive some 300 yards on the 18th to set up a 45-foot eagle putt.

Kent's Conor Bell and Nick Buckland had come back from three-down on the front nine, to edge in front by winning four holes between the ninth and 15th.

Brokenhurst Manor veteran partner Martin Young - who had already made a clutch putt from six feet to keep any chance of winning the game alive on the 16th - ran the putt to three feet, leaving Wheeler to convert a birdie three and finish all-square.

Wheeler then found himself out last in the afternoon singles as Kent rallied strongly, winning four of the first seven games to make it 6-5 to Hampshire.

Robert had to find at least a half in his match against former England junior Jacob Kelso to guarantee the outright victory in Cherry's farewell.

Having seen the best of Kent's fight back, Wheeler went two-up at the turn, but Kelso hit his seven-iron to three feet on the 180-yard par-three for an excellent birdie to halve the deficit.

But Wheeler won 14 and 15 as Kelso failed to get up and down from the back of the green on successive holes, as he went for broke.

Victory was sealed thanks to another big drive on the 354-yard 16th. Robert chipped to 12 feet and holed the birdie to earn a 3&2 win that made it 7-5 to Hampshire.

Cherry, who had 2021 South of England Boys Open winner Charlie Forster, the former North Hants junior now playing at California's Long Beach State University, beaten 4&2 in the top match by Bell, who claimed the Hampshire Hog at the Fleet club last month.

But big wins from fellow US college player Joe Buenfeld, from Bramshaw, and 2022 county champion James Freeman, who won two Hampshire Boys titles at Sherfield Oaks in three years, set up Wheeler for the win.

Cherry, who took over as Hampshire captain from North Hants' Neil Dawson, said: "It was sad to send the boys out for my last foursomes and singles sessions as the reigning South East champions.

"But as we showed again, I know we have a very strong team to hand over to my vice-captain Toby Burdne, who has been a great help over the last year or so.

"Sunday's team doesn't include our reigning county champion Ryan Henley, or Stuart Archibald, the English Over 35s champion just two years ago, and an ever-present in the team that won the league title for the first time in 11 years.

"Rob Wheeler was obviously unlucky and disappointed to not make the original side, but he was brilliant and got to Wrotham as soon as he could on Saturday night when Jo's flight was finally cancelled.

"I paired him with Martin Young - they played well together last year so to win 1.5 points playing the course blind like that was crucial

"Winning the league and fighting back in the match at Sussex last year are memories I will always cherish," added Cherry,

who also led Hampshire to the English Boys Finals in 2017, and played in two South East Colts finals.

He lost just one of his four first-team matches in charge, as well as beating the Channel Islands in their two pre-season warm-up games.

For a full breakdown of the scores and league table please click HERE. 

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