COUNTY president John Nettell described Hampshire's 10-2 victory over Surrey in the South East Counties Golf League as "one of the best of all time."

The victory on Surrey's home territory at West Byfleet enabled Hampshire to secure victory of their group and a place in the final play-off against either Bedfordshire or Berks, Bucks and Oxon.

But what made it so impressive was the emphatic nature of the success against what is regarded as the strongest county in the South East region.

Surrey included the new English champion Paul Casey, England regular Mark Side and their own newly-crowned county champion Nigel Pimm. And all three had to endure a double dose of defeat against a Hampshire team in full spate.

Martin Le Mesurier, back for the summer holidays from a US Golf scholarship, crushed Pimm 7&6, Hampshire's own new champion Darren Henley edged a one-hole win over Casey and Tim Markwick trimmed England international and Brabazon Trophy winner Side 3&2.

The three Surrey stars earlier had to endure defeat in the rain-effected morning four-somes which Hampshire won 3-1 - a good springboard into the singles of which Hampshire won six with the other two halved.

County president John Nettell beamed: "It was a truly remarkable performance; certainly one of the best I can recall. I gather Surrey were so confident about the outcome of the match that they had already arranged their accommodation for the final!"

The result certainly left them shellshocked. Surrey had gone into the group decider having won all thei previous games.

Match details (Hampshire names first) - Foursomes: M Le Mesurier & D Henley beat P Casey & D Clark 2 & 1, C Hudson & T Markwick beat M Side & D Lomas 3&2, R Ramskill & M Young beat N Pimm & M Palmer 3 & 2, K Weeks & A Mew lost to R Rea & M Booker 5 & 4.

Singles: Le Mesurier beat Pimm 7 & 6, Henley beat Casey 1 up, Markwick beat Side 3 & 2, Hudson beat Rea 5 & 4, Ramskill beat Palmer 1 up, Young halved with Clark, Mew halved with Booker. Weeks beat Lomas 1 up.

Casey and Side are both named in the England team for the European Amateur Team Championships at Celtic Manor, South Wales from tomorrow.

Team: Casey (Burhill), Side (Shirley Park), Luke Donald (Beaconsfield), Simon Dyson (Sand Moor), Philip Rowe (West Cornwall), Graeme Storm (The Wynyard), Gary Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs).

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