Route 66 sees Kent home

Scott Stevens and Tom Muchmore both carded four under par 66s to fire Kent to a narrow victory in the south qualifier of the PGA England & Wales Inter-County Championship at Royal Ascot.

The pair plus team-mate Peter Appleyard will go through to the £10,000 final at The Belfry which is taking place over 36 holes from October 18 and 19.

With two best scores from three counting, the Kent trio beat rivals Hampshire by one stroke.

Ashford's Muchmore holed what proved a crucial eagle on the 15^th.

Ridge Golf Club head pro Stevens produced a blistering front nine with six birdies but dropped two shots over the closing three holes.

Hampshire meanwhile pushed them hard with Stoneham’s Adam Hickling carding the low round of the day with a 65.

A solitary dropped shot on the 218-yard par three 17^th was the only blemish on his card. Hampshire’s other two pros were Martin Adams (Swanmore) and Jon Barnes (Lee-on-the-Solent).

BBO, represented by Tom Fleming (Donnington Grove), James Foster (Newbury & Crookham) and Paul Simpson (West Berkshire) were third at five under par.