HAMPSHIRE travel to Littlehampton this weekend knowing that a victory will go a long way towards helping them reach the South-East League Final for the first time in five years (writes Andrew Griffin)

Colin Roope’s men have three points and victory against Sussex on Sunday will set up the final game in the South Division at home to Surrey with every chance of having a crack at winning the Daily Telegraph Salver they last held in 2012 when Stoneham’s Richard Elmes captain the side.

The Blackmoor man has set out his mission to win back the league title after succeeding Martin Young, who led Hampshire to the English County Championshp for the first time in 21 years in September, as county captain at the start of 2018.

And such is the confidence and strength in-depth in the squad that the 37-year-old recruitment company director has left himself out of the team for the first time this season.

Colin had to find room in the eight-man team for Romsey’s red hot Owen Grimes, who followed up his shock win in the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship at Liphook, by winning his first Hampshire Order of Merit event of the year in the Bren Gren at Army GC, two weeks ago.

Roope had claimed the Aldershot club’s men’s open title two years in a row but trailed Grimes by four shots in second.

And Tom Robson, who was denied a Liphook double by Owen after his victory in the final there in 2009, put his Hampshire Colts manager’s hat on to give the 19-year-old US college golfer his debut in the U25s.

Hampshire lost 7-5 to Surrey at Sherfield Oaks, but Robson was able to pair Grimes with another in-form former Florida based player in North Hants’ Sam De’Ath, who lost to Grimes in the semi-finals at Liphook.

The strong driving of the North Hants player, who was in the Hampshire Colts team that reached the South East Final in 2015, coupled with Grimes gripping short game was an ideal foursomes combination.

Colin said: "Robbo was able to pair them straight away for the Colts match and even though Owen went on to lose his singles match, it was a great debut and he and Sam look a natural pairing.

“Owen was not as accurate tee-to-green as Tom in the final, but he got up-and-down so well and made his putting ability count particularly on the last two greens.

“He showed a lot of fight and character and has a lot of self-belief not to get phased by the occasion.

Roope maintained at the start of the season he wanted the quality of his squad to shine through, allowing himself to watch county matches from the fairways,.

But the former Surrey man was always prepared to follow Young and lead from the front if needed as a playing captain, even though only Surrey from the other 11 counties in the South East Group have one currently.

Roope revealed: “I have been playing pretty well but with Billy McKenzie playing in the European Amateur Championships in Hollland, this week, I have brought Owen and Sam straight into the team for Sunday.”

Indeed Roope, who will act as reserve, finished third behind clubmate Mark Burgess at the Hankley Common Mid-Amateur (Over 35s), and was second behind Young in the Justin Rose Mid-Am at North Hants, in the past couple of weeks.

Colin added: “I just felt Sam’s performance at the county championship was more deserving of a place, having made his first-team debut against Dorset in May.”

Even without Spanish Amateur Champion McKenzie, the skipper has Shanklin pair Conor Richards and Jordan Sundborg at his disposal, along with Young, Robson, Jersey’s Jason Stokes and George Saunders, from Meon Valley G&CC.

Colin said: “George followed up his win in the West of England with a top three in The Berkshire Trophy on Sunday – after Billy’s win there in 2015 that is another great showing by a county player in one of the country’s top strokeplay tournaments.

“He is becoming more and more impressive by the week and has made so much progress since reaching the last eight in the British Boys last summer.

“The first season in men’s golf is normally the hardest in making the transition but George is doing brilliantly.”

After a draw against Dorset and the crushing victory over Kent after they travelled over to the Isle of Wight to play at Shanklin and Sandown for the first time in many years where Kent were crushed 101/2-11/2 with every player remaining unbeaten in the foursomes and singles, with three just three halves preventing a total whitewash.

Hampshire squad: M Young (Brokenhurst Manor), T Robson (Rowlands Castle), G Saunders (Meon Valley), S De’Ath (North Hants), O Grimes (Romsey), J Stokes (La Moye), J Sundborg, C Richards (Shanklin & Sandown). Reserve C Roope (capt, Blackmoor).