Dawson eager to put Kent defeat behind golf club

HAMPSHIRE golf captain Neil Dawson will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat against Kent when his team face Dorset on Sunday, writes Andrew Griffin.

The North Hants Golf Club member was looking to get off to a winning start as Hampshire seek a place in the South East League Final for the first time in four years.

He predicted the return of the foursomes match would strengthen the county’s hands after Covid restrictions kept last year’s matches to just eight singles in matchplay.

The visitors drew first blood, winning the morning session 21/2-11/2 at North Foreland.

The cliff-top course at Broadstairs, with a famous lighthouse on the edge of the English Channel, seemed a perfect fit for Dawson’s men after a very productive practice round on Saturday.

Although Brokenhurst Manor’s former county captain Martin Young was beaten 4&3 after being reunited with long time foursomes partner Ryan Henley in the top match, Rowlands Castle’s Tom Robson and Blackmoor’s Mark Burgess ran up a 6&5 win for an early lunch.

Rowlands’ Colin Roope, the other former county captain in the team, helped clubmate

Darren Wright, the former England amateur international, to a half, leaving Hayling’s Toby Burden and Stoneham’s Ryan Moody to win the 17th to claim a 3&1 win over Kent’s former England cap Ed Richardson and Danny Jones.

However, a longer break than usual for lunch seemed to rob Hampshire of the momentum as they got off to a slow start, falling behind in every singles match after three holes.

Burgess lost 6&4 to former England junior Jacob Kelso in the third match as Kent moved in front.

Young fought back from four down at the turn to lose on the last against Conor Bell, whose brother Jon has become a very successful European Tour caddy after a distinguished England junior record.

But Kent having edged in front, defeat for Henley, playing in his first game since 2016, having appeared in seven English County Finals, left Hampshire needing to win the last two matches to force a draw after Roope held on for a win on the last against Tony Adams.

However, like his Stoneham clubmate, Moody – and Hayling’s Toby Burden – also lost on the last by one to Jones and Richardson respectively, to give Kent an 8-4 win.

Hampshire have won all but just two of their last 10 home games against Dorset – and they were draws.