Steve Sharkey has been crowned the new Kent Messenger Group Sunshine Challenge golf champion.

The 44-year-old, who plays off a handicap of 14, took the title at The London Golf Club on Friday when he beat 2002 former champion Barry Venner (h12, Broome Park) 3&2 in the final of the matchplay competition.

Sharkey, who works as a duty manager at London Bridge railway station, will now represent the KM Group in Portugal next month when he will take on a dozen other regional newspapers' winners over three rounds of Stableford play during a week-long stay.

"I am delighted," said Sharkey, who lives in Welling and is a member at Croydon's Farleigh Court. "I entered for the first time last year and lost in the opening round. I have had some tough games this year - it's a great competition.

He booked his place in the final by beating Peter Ludlow (h13, Gillingham) 2&1 in his morning semi-final while Venner edged out Gary Tottman (h6, Canterbury) by the same scoreline.

Full story later this week in your local Messenger newspaper.