Hampshire First Team Win League after tough battle with Surrey

Hampshire flew the flag with pride in a tough match against formidable Surrey opponents but past the test in a tense match that see's the First Team gearing up for another league final in October. 

The 6-6 draw meant Surrey cannot overtake the defending champions when they play their final match against Kent later this month, with Hampshire securing the division title for the 17th time in the competition’s history.

It was the 60th time Hampshire had met Surrey in the league since 1964 and Burden was confident Hindhead’s high-class and picturesque heathland course overlooking the Devil’s Punch Bowl left his team feeling very much at home.

But after England’s new cap Charlie Forster and fellow US college golfer Joe Buenfeld were beaten 2&1 in the top match, Burden – playing with Liphook’s Darren Walkley – was beaten on the last by Surrey’s top pairing of Luke Stock and Aadam Sayeed.

Luckily for the Hampshire captain, Blackmoor’s county champion Sam Parsons helped Jersey’s Jo Hacker, the 2021 winner of the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship, to a quickfire 6&4 win in the third match, which had briefly put the visitors in front.

Ryan Henley, who won a fourth Sloane-Stanley title last year, watched as his partner George Saunders, from Liphook GC, saved the day with two quality shots on the last two holes before rolling in a 25 footer in front of a busy terrace of supporters and team mates giving the team a 2-2 draw going in to lunch. 

The team, along with their coaches, had concentrated in the build-up on the need to go out with a positive mindset and play for the win – avoiding any temptation to play for the draw – and lean on their familiarity with the course and the style of golf required as very much a “home game.”

But with the eight singles matches heading around the turn, there were not too many home comforts for county coach Kevin Flynn, who was left on the radio with Burden as a playing captain concentrating on his own game.

Early in the singles order, Forster, who left Hindhead to head up to Scotland to make his England debut in the Home Internationals at Murcar links this week, had a wobble losing two quick holes, having been three-up against Sayeed, who missed a birdie on the 16th to draw level.

There were no more stumbles as the Long Beach University, who made his Great Britain and Ireland debut in the St Andrews Trophy before reaching the last 16 in last week’s English Amateur Championship won 2&1 by making birdie at the 17th from 12 feet.

Saunders then ended his topsy-turvy match with O’Hagan, in which he had won four holes in a row from the 11th thanks to three birdies and a par to go two-up, only to lose 16 and 17 to birdies from next year’s Surrey captain.

A bogey five from O’Hagan gave Saunders the narrowest of wins as Hacker completed a 4&3 win over junior Freddie Surgey, to put Hampshire 5-2 up and in a strong position as we approached the last of the action. 

A swift set of Hampshire defeats followed though as Walkely, Buenfeld, Parsons and Henley all came up short against tough opponents. With the match poised and Hampshire a point behind this left Toby, in the anchor position, a chance to secure the crucial point needed to win the league. 

Burden, who had won the ninth and 11th, sandwiching Alex Wells birdie on the 10th to go two-up, won the 12th with a par after last year’s England U18 Mixed Championship winner lost his ball.

After halving the 13th in birdie threes by making a five-footer, Burden saw his approach spin off the 14th green. But Toby’s chip halted a couple of inches from the hole as he went four-up and needed just to halve the next to seal the title.

Following the celebrations with the team, a delighted Burden said: “The team celebrated by the 16th after I walked in. The respect and togetherness we have is exceptional.

“We all pulled for each other and are full invested in our conversations. No one is above anyone. We are all in this together – that was one of my best days I’ve ever had playing golf.”

Burden paid tribute to coaches Kevin Flynn (Tournerbury) and Simon Andrews (Portsmouth Golf Centre) and to Hampshire Golf’s secretary Richard Arnold and his assistant Chris Harrison.

“The team are just such good players but also brilliant blokes along with everything that our support team do for us, so we are as prepared as possible.

“A massive massive thanks goes to them. Kev didn’t stop all day – following the team around, giving great advice. He’s a different level and really sets the tone for the team in terms of passion, preparation and determination to get the job done!.”

See the full scores click HERE

The final takes place at Northwood GC on Sunday 6th October- we can't wait!!

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