The only man Richard Elmes did not surprise when he won the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Golf Championship last year was himself.
As he prepares for his defence of the title at Shanklin and Sandown Club on Friday, Elmes, pictured right, recalled: "People were saying I was one of the biggest outsiders to win the title, but I didn't see it that way.
"I've been playing golf at a decent level for a good few years and, before last year's championship at my home club Stoneham, I was running into some good form.
"I certainly fancied my chances a bit, even if a few others didn't, and I had to win it the hard way.
"Two of the best players in the championship were Martin Young and Ryan Henley and I beat them both, winning against Sam Boyes in the final."
Elmes has since proved that his title win was no one-off with a fine second place finish in the French Mid-Amateur Championship - and more recently with a rousing performance for Hampshire in their match against the Hampshire PGA at Blackmoor last month.
He beat the former Hampshire PGA Matchplay champion Philip Bryden 7 & 5, the biggest winning margin of the day, and admitted: "I was hot that day and I think Philip lost a bit of heart in the end.
"I am better in a matchplay situation and I suppose it's because I'm competitive by nature. If I get beyond the qualifying stages on Friday, I'll go into the matchplay believing I can beat anyone."
Elmes does admit there are one or two players he would rather avoid, like his young Stoneham clubmate David Porter, the former England junior international who is playing in his first county championship.
"He's the one I would definitely want to miss," smiles Elmes, "but Ryan Henley is another who is due a title win. I fancy him to do well this week."
Most of all, Elmes believes in himself to go well again.
"I want to keep my title and I'll do my best to defend it," he said.
At 42 he's not quite the veteran of the field. Brokenhurst Manor giant Kevin Weeks can give him a year or two, and the way the Hampshire captain is playing, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that he could add to his tally of Hampshire titles.
Weeks's Brokenhurst clubmate, England international Martin Young, is another player ripe to wear the crown.
Qualifying starts on Friday with the first two rounds of matchplay on Saturday and the semi-finals and final on Sunday.
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