BLACKMOOR'S Mark Burgess put the disappointment of a terrible start to the season behind him by claiming the Courage Trophy for the second time, on his home course on Sunday.
His one-shot victory over last year's runner-up Toby Burden, from Hayling Island, saw the 6ft 7ins tall insurance company accountant standing head and shoulders above the rest once again.
The winter weather not only curtailed the growing season on the East Hampshire heathland course, it also stalled Burgess's season.
Having become the first Blackmoor member to win the prestigious Selborne Salver, in 2009, his title defence came off the rails as he finished some 22 shots behind the winner this year.
But he could have come close to equalling his own course record of 63 if the putts had dropped as his ball-striking finally came up to scratch in the Courage, where he shot rounds of 69 and 68 to finish one-under – 17 better than his last 36 holes at Blackmoor.
The winner of the Courage at Basingstoke, back in 2006, Burgess has become just the eighth player to win the county strokeplay championship on his own course.
He is only the fifth player to win it more than once in 48 years.
Ex-county captain Andy Bow, from Stoneham, finally got his hands on the Hampshire, Isle of Wight & Channel Islands Mid-Amateur Championship.
The runner-up was Blackmoor's Martin Robb, playing off three, who shot a superb level-par 69 in the second round, after a 77 before lunch, to finish four behind Bow.