Charlie Forster from Basingstoke picked up a maximum two points on his full Hampshire debut.

But he was left as the last-man standing as his more experienced team-mates crumbled against Sussex.

The narrow 61/2-51/2defeat – after both teams were buffeted by a strong sea breeze from the Solent at Hayling’s tough seaside links – left Hampshire’s hopes of a first South East League title win since 2012 in tatters.

County captain Neil Dawson plumped for the 19-year-old Southeast Louisiana University golf scholar after his fifth place finish at The Berkshire Trophy the weekend before, as he reshuffled his squad for the second and final South Division home match of the season.

Having beaten Dorset 10-2 to bounce back from the reverse against Kent in May, Dawson had described the Sussex game as a “must-win” fixture.

He was confident after including his three in-form, university golfers, it would be enough to get Hampshire over the line.

But instead Hampshire suffered their first home defeat against Sussex since 1997, following last year’s disappointing defeat up on the Sussex Downs, at The Dyke.

Dawson was clearly disappointed in the immediate aftermath of the defeat. At lunch, Hampshire had been held 2-2 in the foursomes.

Dawson partnered Forster, the reigning Hampshire Junior Champion, with Virginia Commonwealth University senior George Saunders, from Lee-on-the-Solent.

The pair went out last and with the score at 1-1, Dawson needed their point and they responded, beating John Exon-Taylor and James White 3&2.

County champion James Freeman, who is at University of Birmingham, teamed up with best mate Joe Buenfeld, from Bramshaw GC, who made his debut against Sussex following his strong showing at last year’s county championship.

But they lost 2&1 to leave everything to play for in the eight singles games.

They started badly as Hampshire last three of the first five matches – all on the 17th – to trail 51/2-31/2.

Buenfeld and Forster were in scrap to get the two points needed for victory after Saunders romped to a 7&5 win over former Sussex captain Steve Watts, whose team snatched a 6-6 draw at North Hants three years ago.

Having trailed on the front nine, Forster showed why he is a such an exciting prospect, grinding out a 2&1 win, having made an eagle-two on the eighth to level his match with Josh Hayes, also making his debut.

Fellow Sussex debutant Tim Hollis beat Buenfeld 3&2 however in the match in front, to seal the win for the visitors, who ironically drew 6-6 the last time Hayling hosted the fixture in 2013.

Charlie said: “It was obviously great to win both my points, but for them to count for nothing in the end, made it a hollow win for me.

“I really wanted to be on the winning side, and give Hampshire the chance to qualify for the final when we play Surrey next month.

“George and I played some good golf in the foursomes. We clicked well as a partnership.

“After our practice round on Saturday, I did not think the par-threes suited my eye so George teed off on the even holes.

“I lost the 11th in the singles because I misjudged the wind and hit it long on the short par-three to go back to one-down.

“But I then birdied 12, 13 and 14 to go in front for the first time, only to bogey 15. I then had to make a six-footer on the par-three 16th for par before winning on the 17th.”

Dawson must now come up with a plan for next month’s South East six-man qualifier, when Hampshire will travel to Bury St Edmunds, in Suffolk, looking to reach the English County Finals for the first time since 2017, when they claimed the English County Championship for the first time since 1996 when Justin Rose was a teenager in the team.

Forster, who admits Rose has been a big inspiration since joining the Fleet club, will be waiting to find out if he has done enough to make the squad.

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