Stoneham suffered more Fullers County Sevens heartache, as they lost a dramatic final to Old Thorns.

The 4-3 defeat was sealed when last-man-standing Neil Scullard was pegged back with a hole to go and lost out to a stunning bunker shot from opponent Matt Bonney.

Both players found trouble on the final hole at Lee-on-the-Solent, with Scullard ending up short of the green with his fourth, while Bonney – who had won 17 to square the match – found a greenside bunker with his third.

Scullard chipped to ten feet, but Bonney put his bunker shot inside 18 inches, forcing the Stoneham anchorman to concede and hand the trophy to Old Thorns for the first time in their history.

Stoneham captain Paul Whitlock, whose side had beaten The Army 4-3 in the morning semi-final, said: “We had played some great golf to even get to the final and, given we don’t have a great history in the competition, considering how successful Stoneham has been in every other county competition down the years, we have to be pleased with our efforts, if ultimately disappointed.”

Next year will be the 50th County Sevens final, when Stoneham will be keen to finally add their name to the trophy for the first time, having also been runners-up in 1984.

County Sevens Final Stoneham 3 Old Thorns 4 (handicaps in brackets): Peter Bennett (4) lost to Paul Gill (11) 7&6; Andy Hickson (4) beat Scott Benton (11) 3&2; James Caws lost to Andy Dickinson (13) 3&2; Tony Pilcher (9) beat Peter Skidmore (6) 4&3; Kevin McCann (6) lost to Anthony Chicheportiche (8) 5&4; Paul Whitlock (11) beat Rob Craig (10) 3&2; Neil Scullard (3) lost to Matt Bonney (8) 1down.

Semi-final Stoneham 4 Army 3: Bennett beat Haydn Reay 3&2; Hickson beat K West 2&1; Caws lost to Henry Lloyd 4&3; Pilcher lost to Simon Pitcher 3&2; McCann lost to T Reay 1down; Whitlock beat C Taylor 2&1; Scullard beat C Turton 4&3.