Golfing duo drive into national finals

Adam Appleby and Ray Smith are among 16 pairs who will contest the finals event of the Daily Mail Foursomes at Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club, Edinburgh, from October 12-14.

The Sedlescombe duo booked their place at the well-known Scottish venue courtesy of a convincing seventh round victory away to Dyke GC.

Appleby and Smith previously saw off opposition from Nevill, Gillingham, East Sussex National, Lydd, Tenterden (via a walkover) and Highwoods during a magnificent run.

Sedlescombe suffered disappointment, meanwhile, in the final of the Sussex Inter Club Scratch Matchplay Championship for the Optimus Plate with a hard-fought 7.5-4.5 defeat to Copthorne at Dyke GC.

The Kent Street club trailed 3-1 after the morning foursomes despite a 2&1 victory for Robert Prime and Trevor Saull Hunt over Paul Oliver and Colin Linsley in match two.

Murray Thompson and Michael Anthony lost 4&3 in the top match, Stuart Bellhouse and Paul Lawrence went down 2&1 in match three, and Simon Linklater and Jon Heys succumbed 5&3 in the bottom match.

Sedlescombe won all of the top three matches in the afternoon singles. Bellhouse and Thompson both triumphed 1 up against Harry Ruffels and Gary Wright respectively, and Anthony saw off Andrew Mackie 3&2.

Although Linklater earned a half against Oliver in match four, Sedlescombe lost all of the bottom four games. Saull Hunt was beaten 2 down, Prime slumped 6&5, Lawrence was edged out 1 down and Heys went down 3&1.