CORHAMPTON will try to claim the Hampshire Sevens title for the first time in the competition’s 60-year history when they travel to Alresford this weekend.
The club are enjoying a fantastic season thanks to the success of their juniors – headed by Max Blake, who has been picked to make his England U16 debut when he faces Ireland at Cheshire’s Wallasey GC, next month.
Blake has also been awarded a place in the England U18 squad for 2027 – alongside Hampshire Boys team-mate Albie Beeston, after the pair dominated their county’s scoring at the English Boys County Finals, where they finished second to Yorkshire, after winning the South East Boys Qualifier for the first time in 11 years, back in July.
And they are breeding even younger champions with Ralph Smith winning the Faldo Series U9/10s title at the six-time Major winners’ annual national junior championship, which was held in the week of the British Masters, at The Belfry, with the youngsters getting the chance to mingle with stars from the DP World Tour.
But now the spotlight falls on Corhampton’s older players as they battle to win the county’s Inter-Club Knockout – the only other time they reached the finals was back in 2007 when they were beaten by hosts Hockley, who romped to a 6-1 victory.
In 2008, Corhampton played the County Sevens Final without their star player Neil Raymond, who would play in the Walker Cup five years later. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES
Corhampton were without their leading player 18 years ago with future Walker Cup star Neil Raymond making his debut in the English County Finals when Hampshire reached the last four at Holinwell, in Nottinghamshire, one of the top heathland tracks in the country.
This year’s team – captained by Steve Griffin – have come through the very tough South quarter of the draw which included three of the past five champions and two other finalists, as well as Hockley, four-time winners of the County Sevens trophy.
Griffin has resisted the temptation to bring Blake into his squad for the Sunday showdown. The handicap format historically favours players with double-figure allowances over category one players, who may find themselves giving away shots on nearly every hole.
And on shorter courses that can often be too much to overcome for even the best players.
Instead he will rely on the men who got Corhampton to the finals day thanks to wins over Barton-on-Sea, South Winchester and Alresford – who missed out on a chance to play for the trophy on their own course, losing 4-3 in the quarter-finals last month.
The successful skipper admitted while he might have been tempted to draft the club’s latest England prospect into the line-up, he had to be loyal to the players who had fought their way through a tough campaign.
Steve said: “This run has been about more than just scorecards. It has been built on team spirit, real camaraderie and everyone pulling for each other across every match.
“That’s what gets a team through tight ties and tough days on the golf course.”
They made light of their work to reach the last eight beating a strong South Winchester side 6-1 on their home track, to set up the clash with Alresford.
With Paul Redaway winning 5&4 at the top of the order and Martin Tidbury cruising to a 7&5 victory in match number four, once Glyn Knaresborough had won 2&1 in the second match out, Corhampton were on course for just their second appearance in the last eight in some 20 years.
Griffin and Darren Cook were racing to claim the crucial fourth point and claimed victories by 3&2 and 4&3 respectively almost simultaneously to leave Russell Ridge to match Simon Hobbs’ earlier half to ensure Corhampton remained unbeaten on the day.
LEE LOOKING FOR SECOND SEVENS SUCCESS
TO make the 2026 Hampshire Sevens final, Corhampton will have to overcome Lee-on-the-Solent, who are making their first appearance at finals day since they were beaten by Sevens’ joint record holders Army GC, in 2019.
Back then, Lee – who have their own pedigree in producing Ryder Cup ace Steve Richardson and fellow European Tour player Sam Hutsby – had a mixture of youth and seniority in their seven-strong line up.
Mike Edmunds, who claimed the Hampshire Seniors crown this year, was part of the team sevens years ago, while junior Will Green – who is now a caddy on the DP World Tour – was a team-mate, along with US college winner Lewis Scott, who is now one of the club’s professionals.
On their way to the finals this year, Lee beat 2010 winners Southsea in the first round of the East Region draw, and that 4½-2½ victory set up a tough clash with Hayling, who have not won the Sevens since 1973.
An incredible performance saw the clash of the two Solent sides end in a victory by six points to Lee with Hayling picking up just a half.
And Lee were just as ruthless in their round clash with Cowes, whose sole win was back in 2003, as the mainland team booked their place in the last eight with a crushing 6-1 scoreline.
That left Waterlooville standing between Lee and and a place in the last four, some mean opponent having reached the finals in 2022 and 2023. But there was to be no third final appearance in five years as Lee came out on top in a see-saw match, eventually winning 4–3.
In earlier rounds, Corhampton had beaten Hockley – who beat them 6-1 in that sole final appearance 18 years ago – although the 4&3 scoreline reflected what a tough first-round match they had faced.
That set-up the clash with New Forest club Barton-on-Sea and Griffin’s boys took no prisoners on their way to a 5-2 win to book their place in the last eight.
Lee-on-the-Solent’s Dave Edmunds who won the Hampshire Seniors Championship back in May. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFN / AMG PICTURES
Lee-on-the-Solent will be looking to match their success when they last appeared in the final 20 years ago, winning their first Sevens title on the 19th hole – after their clash with Shanklin & Sandown had finished tied after the seven singles.
No doubt Lee will be formidable opponents for Corhampton, with the winners set to face either North Hants, who finished fourth last year, or Jersey’s Les Ormes – who also reached the final in 2022 –
Corhampton, on the face of it, an unassuming club – set up on fast-draining chalk soil on downlands in the Meon Valley – have built a reputation for developing two of the best English amateurs over the last 15 years.
Neil Raymond and Scott Gregory both appeared against America in the Walker Cup for Great Britain and Ireland within four years of each other.
Between them Raymond won two Brabazon Trophies back-to-back, breaking a record that stood for some 50 years, while Gregory became the first Hampshire-born golfer to claim The Amateur Championship, back in 2016, which earned him exemptions into that year’s Open Championship, as well as the Masters and US Open in 2017.
Should Corhampton claim that elusive Sevens title, no doubt the celebrations will be just as big as when Blake, Gregory and Raymond helped put their club firmly on the national and international map.
The Lee-on-the-Solent team who lost in the final of the County Sevens to Army GC in 2019. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES