Hampshire shrugged off the absence of a host of star players to storm through to the finals of the English County Championship.

Captain Richard Elmes saw his team produce a remarkable performance to top the standings in the south east qualifier and advance to September’s showpiece event.

Hampshire will head to Minchinhampton for the final, where they will hope to be crowned English county champions for the first time since 1996.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Elmes, whose two-year spell in charge will come to an end at the conclusion of the season.

“This is my last year as captain, so it was nice to follow in the footsteps of the past few captains and get to the final.”

Hampshire went into the event at South Bedfordshire Golf Club missing their number one player, Neil Raymond, who was helping England win the European Amateur Team Championship.

They were also without Harry Ellis and Jack Singh-Brar, who were representing their country in the equivalent boys’ event, while Gavin O’Neill was competing for Jersey in the Island Games and 2013 county champion Ryan Henley was unavailable.

But Rowlands Castle’s Tom Robson picked up the slack, finishing six-under for his two rounds, which was good enough to top the individual standings.

“Tom established himself this year as being one of the very best players in the team. The way he’s playing at the moment is exceptional,” said Elmes.

“He really wanted to lead the qualifying and wanted to be the lowest scorer, and he achieved that. He’s playing great golf at the moment.”

Stoneham’s Elliot Groves and Brokenhurst Manor duo Martin Young and Jordan Ainley, who had a hole-in-one in the morning, all finished one-over.

Blackmoor’s Mark Burgess was four-over, while Rowlands Castle’s Billy McKenzie ended up on plus-eight, as Hampshire (+9) finished seven shots clear of runners-up Kent (+16).

“It was just a really good team performance,” said Elmes.

“Apart from Tom, we had no outstanding scores, but there were a lot of solid ones. It was the consistency that won it for us.”

After the event, Elmes was beaming with pride.

“I had a 100-mile drive home and you couldn’t wipe the grin off my face,” he said.

“It just shows the strength and depth of Hampshire golf, and the ability of the players who are up and coming.”

Hampshire will face the winners of the south west, midlands, and northern qualifiers in the final, with Elmes expecting to have most of his top players available.