Why a major rule change makes Hampshire’s County Finals golf title bid even harder in 2021

A major rule change for 2021 means Hampshire face an even bigger challenge to maintain their outstanding record in qualifying for the English County Finals.
Flashback - Hampshire captain Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor) with the South East England Golf Qualifier trophy and Meon Valley's Harry Ellis with the Peter Benka Trophy for the lowest 36-hole score (68, 66 -6) at Reading's Calcot Park in July 2016. Picture: Andrew Griffin/AMG Pictures.Flashback - Hampshire captain Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor) with the South East England Golf Qualifier trophy and Meon Valley's Harry Ellis with the Peter Benka Trophy for the lowest 36-hole score (68, 66 -6) at Reading's Calcot Park in July 2016. Picture: Andrew Griffin/AMG Pictures.
Flashback - Hampshire captain Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor) with the South East England Golf Qualifier trophy and Meon Valley's Harry Ellis with the Peter Benka Trophy for the lowest 36-hole score (68, 66 -6) at Reading's Calcot Park in July 2016. Picture: Andrew Griffin/AMG Pictures.

That’s the verdict of Hampshire Golf captain Neil Dawson following an important amendment to the rules for the 2021 England Golf’s South East Qualifier – known as the ‘Six-man’.

Having seen his first attempt at qualifying for the finals wiped out by the pandemic in 2020, Dawson knows his men have a real fight on their hands to reach final No. 14 in the county’s history in a competition which dates back to the mid-1920s, writes ANDREW GRIFFIN.

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Dawson explained: ‘Up until last year, the competition – in all four regions – was determined by the best score over 36 holes, with all six players’ rounds counting – morning and afternoon.

‘That meant you could not afford a rules infringement that ended in a player being disqualified in either round – and also meant you could not afford an injury preventing them from completing their round.

‘Both things have happened to other counties in the past. But a rule change means it’s going to be the best of five scores counting in both rounds in 2021.’

After a debate by England Golf – the amateur game’s ruling body for all national championships – it was decided the four regions (North, South East, South West and Midlands) could choose their own format.

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Dawson, who led Hampshire Colts to the South East title in 2015 and 2016, said: ‘It was not my preference, but the South East Group has gone with five scores counting.

‘When you look back at the recent history of the South East qualifier, you can see the reason why Hampshire play so well is the consistency in our six-man squad.

‘You cannot really carry a bad score – something like five or six-over par in either round.

‘In the past, we have had experienced mid-amateurs (Over 35s) – like Martin Young, Ryan Henley, Mark Burgess, Matt Wilcox, and my predecessor Colin Roope - who know the ropes and what it takes to win this event.

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‘Coupled with our talented England players like Harry Ellis, Scott Gregory and Billy McKenzie in recent years, plus Neil Raymond, Darren Wright and Sam Hutsby before them , we have nearly always been in the mix, even in the years we have not ended up winning.

‘That strength in-depth is what separates the top counties, especially in our division, which is the largest of the four in England.’

Dawson, who took over from Roope at the end of 2019, fears the rule change will help his rivals considerably at Norfolk’s Water Eaton GC in July – the same venue as planned in 2020.

‘Now that you can discard the highest score in each round, it will bring more counties into the mix every year,’ he said.

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After Young led Hampshire to victory in both the regional qualifier and victory in the national finals in 2017, Roope’s team were outgunned by Berks, Bucks & Oxon in 2018.

They finished second, 12 shots behind the champions.

A year later, with former British Amateur Champion Gregory helping the team prepare for the shoot-out in Kent, the host county’s up-and-coming England juniors proved unbeatable.

Hampshire could only finish fifth, their worst result since 2011.