Sun Kings set to go head to head
It's the battle of the Sunshine kings. The 2008 News Sunshine Challenge winner Ben Lobacz will take on 2007 champion Ian Allinson for a place in the quarter-finals of the popular matchplay event.
It's a draw both joked about around Petersfield Golf Club where the pair are members.
Both have represented the Portsmouth area in the national final's week in the Algarve and know exactly what is at stake.
For eight-handicapper Allinson, 44, it's a chance to get his revenge over 18-year-old Lobacz, who is also a member at Portsmouth Golf Club and who beat Allinson on his way to glory last year.
'I have to play well and hope I catch him on a bad day,' said Allinson, who lives in Horndean.
'Last year when I played him I really didn't play well and he putted great.
'Basically I gave him the game.
'This time will be different.
'It should be a great game. I'll be able to wind him up at the club beforehand as well!'
Allinson is hoping his second round win is a good omen for this year's event.
He beat Mark Howe, who he overcame at the same stage en route to the title two years ago.
The manner of the victory was the same, too, with Howe three-putting on the first extra hole.
Fresh from that victory, Allinson is now preparing to face a confident
Lobacz, knowing both players have an eye on a glorious return to the sunny Algarve.
Allinson said: 'Ben is probably the lowest handicapper in there so he'll be confident and he'll fancy his chances.
'Being a youngster he has no fear and hits the ball straight.
'But it's matchplay, anything can happen, a few bounces of the ball, a few putts that don't drop and you never know.
'Playing in the finals in Portugal is something I'll always remember.
'You enter these things but you never expect to win.
'I know what I've got to do to get there again – beat Ben for a start.
'I knew I would get him in the draw! It's something we have been talking about.
'It should be good, though. It's my final.'
Second-round results: Alan Cheesman (Cams Hall) beat John Marsh (Waterlooville) 4&2; Ben Lobacz (Petersfield & Portsmouth) beat Robert Duncan 2&1; Matt Murphy (Cams Hall) beat Michael Clark (Gosport & Stokes Bay) 2up; Andrew Ogilvie (Cams Hall) beat Oliver Hedge (Gosport & Stokes Bay) 2&1; Ian Allinson (Petersfield) beat Mark Howe (Cams Hall) on the 19th; Arek Majczak (East Horton) beat Andy Gould (Portsmouth) 1up; Alan Potter (Hayling) beat Alasdair Gilchrist (Southwick Park) 2&1; Shane Smith (Waterlooville) beat Jamie McCutcheon (Rowlands Castle) 1up; Dominic Carter (Lee-on-the-Solent) beat Dean Lee (Blackmoor) 2&1; Adrian Brewster (Wickham) beat Albert Zarb-Cousin (East Horton) 1hole; Trevor Finlay (Waterlooville) beat Sir George Pigot (Sandford Springs) 4&2; Cliff Evans (Gosport & Stokes Bay) beat Gillian Murphy (Southampton) 5&4; Ben Russell (Cams Hall) beat Trevor Tollervey (Corhampton) 3&1; Simon Hoyle (Gosport & Stokes Bay) beat Richard Greenway (Corhampton) 1up; Bernard Hudson (Royal Winchester) beat Martin William (Waterlooville) 2&1; Liam Broderick (Waterlooville) beat Tony McDowell (Rowlands Castle).
Third-round draw: Ian Allinson (Petersfield) v Ben Lobacz (Petersfield & Portsmouth); Arek Majczak (East Horton) v Andrew Ogilvie (Cams Hall); Shane Smith (Waterlooville) v Alan Potter (Hayling); Dominic Carter (Lee-on-the-Solent) v Trevor Finlay (Waterlooville); Liam Broderick (Waterlooville) v Alan Cheesman (Cams Hall); Cliff Evans (Gosport & Stokes Bay) v Adrian Brewster (Wickham Park); Simon Hoyle (Gosport & Stokes Bay) v Matt Murphy (Cams Hall); Ben Russell (Cams Hall) v Bernard Hudson (Royal Winchester).
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Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
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