KEVIN WEEKS admits there's a lot of pride at stake when his Hampshire amateur stars clash with their professional counterparts at Blackmoor on Sunday.
The annual match between the county's top amateur and professionals is being revived after a 40-year gap, and thanks to a new sponsorship deal with Champions of Sport, who specialise in sporting memorabilia, looks set to re-establish itself on the golfing calendar.
Hampshire captain Weeks, pictured, admits: "My boys are really up for it. Two of our top players, Martin Young and David Porter, will be away playing in the Lytham Trophy, but we've still got a team who will give the professionals a good run for their money."
There are few better player in the county right now than Weeks himself. The man who won the English title way back in the 1980s was certainly the best of the bunch when Hampshire suffered their first South East Counties League defeat in three years against Kent recently.
Another man the professionals will have to beware of is James Knight, who won the Berkhamsted Trophy earlier in the month.
There's a definite swing to the left in the team chosen by Hampshire PGA captain Terry Gosden.
Top left-handers James Ablett from Alresford and Kevin Saunders from Dibden are in the ten-strong Hampshire PGA team.
Ablett and Saunders have hoovered up several of the county major titles as have several others members of the team including former European Challenge tour player Rob Edwards who says he is playing better than ever.
Edwards and newly-installed Hockley professional Gary Stubbington provide the experience along with Blackmoor professional Steve Clay who adds strong home interest to the match.
Hampshire PGA: James Ablett (Alresford), Ceb Aby (Chilworth), Jonathan Barnes (Sandford Springs), Philip Bryden (Portsmouth), Steve Clay (Blackmoor), Rob Edwards (Lee-on-the-Solent), Jason Neve (Cams Hall), Kevin Saunders (Dibden), Gary Stubbington (Hockley), Russell Tate (Lee-on-the-Solent).
Hampshire Golf Union: Kevin Weeks, Jon Young (Brokenhurst Manor), Ryan Henley, Richard Elmes, Andy Bow (Stoneham), Mark Thistleton (Hayling), David Butwell (Lee-on-the-Solent). One more player to be announced after the Courage Trophy.
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