STEVE LOVELL made a successful start to the defence of his Kent Messenger Sunshine Challenge golf crown beating the man he faced in last year's final.

The five handicapper and national champion recorded a 5&4 win over Tony Sampson at his home club, Sittingbourne, in the first round of this season's competition.

Lovell is bidding to win the county leg of the competition for an unprecedented third consecutive year.

He said: "It was not as comfortable as the score suggests. Tony played far better than he did in the final last year.

"I went four up after the first four holes but then he won the next three. I managed to get a birdie at the ninth and then the 11th and that was probably the turning point."

He added: "I would love to go back to Portugal again for the national final but it's a long way off."

The second round will be played before June 23.

First round results:

Bob Davies (h12, Addington Palace) beat Ian Gordon (h6, Woodlands) 3&2, Mark Patterson (h9, Ashford) beat John Hutchins (h11, Sheerness) 5&3, Anthony Wright (h15, Whitstable) beat Bernard Mee (h18, Bearsted) 3&1, Jeff Thomas (h12, Bearsted) beat David Hutchins (h20, Westerham) 8&7, Michael Fillingham (h9, Faversham) beat Tony Ford (h18, Boughton) 2up, Barry Venner (h14, Broome Park) beat Nick Hales (h13, Upchurch) 5&3, Richard Askham (h5, Canterbury) beat Tony Piggott (h5, Boughton) 2 up, Jeffrey Ross (h13, The Ridge) beat Gary Beautridge (h5, Canterbury), Stephen Goode (h16, Canterbury) beat Elna Grant (h20, Etchinghill) 3&2 William Pearson (h8, Canterbury) beat Alan Carter (h9, Romney Warren) at the 19th hole, Gary Tottman (h6, Canterbury) beat John Humphrys (h14, Herne Bay) 1up, Shaun Skirrow (h21) beat Dave Watson (h18, Deangate) 3 &1, Steven Sharkey (h12, Farleigh Court) beat Anthony Stapley (h14, West Malling) walkover, Andy Parker (h9, Tudor Park) beat Peter Ludlow (h14, Gillingham) 2&1, Brian Issom (h15, Hoylte) beat Dave Morgan (h9, West Malling) 2&1, Gregg Harrison (h19, Gillingham) beat Stephen Twort (h18, Kent National) concession, David Bourne (h13, Littlestone) beat Barry Barnsley (h23, Royal Cinque Ports) 6&4, Philip Noble (h9, Lydd) beat David Moore (h12, Romney Warren) 3&2, Milton Marsh (h18, Sene Valley) beat Richard Esses (h14, Boughton) 6&5, John Wheble (h21, Sene Valley) beat Pat Goode (h14, Canterbury) 4&3, Tom Robertson (h7, Shortlands) beat Steve Brewer (h12, Chart Hills) 3&2, Steve Lovell (h5, Sittingbourne) beat Tony Sampson (h9, Redlibbets) 5&4, Trevor Sandford (h16, Marriott Tudor Park) beat James Walsh (h11, Tudor Park) 2&1,Susan Harvey (h24, Tunbridge Wells) beat Roger Piper (h24, Upchurch Valley) 6&5, Tom Sampson (h7, Hempstead Forest) beat Kevin Hood (h11, Wrotham Heath) 1up, Andrew Humphrey (h13, Wrotham Heath) beat Raymond Young (h17, Addington Court) 7&5.