HAMPSHIRE captain Toby Burden is facing up to losing one of his most experienced campaigners for the rest of the season as he prepares for Sunday’s do-or-die clash with Sussex in the South East League.
Burden’s boys know they must win their match away at Cowdray Park – more famous for its polo ground than golf course – to have any realistic hopes of making a third South East League Final in a row, following their last-gasp draw against Kent at Brokenhurst Manor, last month.
A freak accident at work saw Liphook’s Darren Walkley (pictured above) very nearly lose a finger, and the former EuroPro and Challenge Tour player is definitely out of action for the foreseeable future.
Walkley, who turned pro nearly 10 years ago after winning the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship at Brokenhurst, was moving a heavy concrete plinth with a colleague.
When they lost hold and dropped it, Darren’s middle finger of his left hand was trapped underneath and he feared it may have to be amputated.
He said this week: “The finger is intact, but it could be a long time before I can hit shots again. I have had to pull out of all my golf events for the foreseeable future – including the Liphook Club Championship and the county match against Sussex.
“The doctors did an incredible job in stitching everything back together – including all the nerves. But at this stage, I also have to be very doubtful for next month’s six-man qualifier too.”
Walkley had not been at his best when losing his singles match against Kent but he took the Pechell Salver as the leading qualifier at the 120th Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship, at Shanklin & Sandown, two weeks ago.
In last year’s Six-Man, Hampshire were second behind Essex last year after Walkley holed his second shot at the last to finish tied fifth in the 66-man field, at Sussex’s The Dyke GC.
Missing the experience the three-time Hampshire Order of Merit winner could prove vital as Hampshire try to add to their 15 victories in Sussex since 2000, including seven away wins over the last 24 years.
That fine run included two years ago when Hampshire recovered from a defeat in the foursomes to go unbeaten in the singles after lunch. That 8-4 win was inspired by the shock death of former Hampshire president and secretary Keith Maplesden, a week or so earlier.
Burden was putting a brave face on the loss of Walkley, knowing that Walker Cup prospect Charlie Forster will be travelling to Sweden for next week’s European Amateur Championship, over the weekend.
But Liphook’s George Saunders elimination in the first round at the Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s on Wednesday, strengthened the county captain’s hands, while Sandford Springs’ James Knight, who won the Delhi Cup, at Hockley, in May, could come into consideration having been unavailable to face Sussex.
Burden’s squad were due to have practice rounds at Cowdray Park on a couple of evenings this week, as the playing captain and county coach Kev Flynn, from Hayling’s Tournerbury GC, leave nothing to chance in their preparation.
Hampshire captain Toby Burden faces some selection headaches in the build-up to the trip to Sussex. PIcture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES
Toby said: “We’re ready to go – we have had extra practice rounds on two evenings this week. We are really sad for Darren, but he’s been really supportive, wanting the team to do well.”
World No. 72 Forster has two wins for Long Beach State under his belt in 2025, and finished eighth in the NCAA Regionals, in May and helped the International team beat the USA in the Arnold Palmer Cup two weeks ago.
He was also fourth in April’s Big West Conference Championship, while Saunders claimed the world-ranked Hampshire Salver for the best 72-hole score in the Selborne and Blackmoor Salvers in the same month.
Four-time county champion Ryan Henley, from Stoneham, is not available because of family commitments, but clubmate Joe Buenfeld, will be full of confidence after his win in the county championship final on the Isle of Wight.
Victory over Sussex will more than likely set up a winner-takes-all showdown with Surrey at Toby Burden’s home course at Hayling in early August, depending on the outcome of their match with Kent – who beat Sussex in their opening South Division fixture the week before Hampshire’s first game.
•See the Hampshire line-up and to follow live scoring here