Canterbury Golf Club were crowned Kent club champions for the first time when they beat Sevenoaks’ Wildernesse GC 7.5-4.5 in the Mid-Kent Cup final at Littlestone on Saturday.

John MacDonald’s team defeated Sheerness to win a seventh Guilford Trophy for clubs east of Medway last September while Wildernesse got through beating Shooters Hill in the final of the Perman Shield, played for by clubs on the other side of the county.

Clear underdogs Canterbury laid the foundation for the greatest team triumph in the club's 98-year history, winning the morning foursomes 2.5-1.5, before Levi Johnson fought back from three down with four to play through two birdies and two pars to snatch a half point against Danny Jones in the first match of the afternoon singles.

Luke Taylor produced the outstanding performance of the 5-3 singles victories, beating Dan Shield 6&5 overall.

Debut-making Michael Vandenberg saw off Jason Jiang 3&2, Shaun Pilbeam beat Jake Bacon by the same margin and Mark Broadhurst holed a 20-feet uphill putt on the last to defeat Christo Lloyd 1 up.

Skipper MacDonald feared a morning deficit after Johnson and Pilbeam had lost their ball down the last, having led 1 up with four to play, before Taylor and Stuart Gray and Chris Almond and Broadhurst snatched one-hole wins.

Taylor and Gray were 2 down, but recovered to all square and then Taylor hit a 5 iron 188 yards to reach the par-five last in two shots to seal their win.

Johnson battled hard to snatch his singles half, saying: “I was never going to give up.

“I birdied 15 and then hit driver, wedge to birdie 16 - one of the hardest holes on the course. He was five-under-par at the turn and I was 3 down but I was thinking: 'Really I'm not doing too bad', I just had to keep believing in myself and keep going.”

Taylor said: “I was solid from tee to green and my putting was pretty good all day. It's been a long day - but well worth it.”

“I struggled a little bit at the start with my putting, but I found it again,” Vandenberg said. “I was roughly four-under-par and I hit the ball brilliantly and didn't miss a green in regulation.”

Pilbeam said: “I played very well. I didn’t miss a shot, to be honest. I was three-under-par and it's the first time we've ever won this. It's awesome!”

“It felt great to roll that one in from 20 feet at the last to win that one,” Broadhurst said. “We had never won this trophy before, but we have now.”

MacDonald said: “I'm tremendously proud of the lads. I picked the team on as much form as I could get from the winter competitions and it was a team I thought would win the game.

“When Levi got that half, I knew we were going to win. It’s an absolutely fabulous result and everyone contributed.”

Canterbury were supported at Littlestone by volunteer caddies Pete and Alan Bundock, Jamie White and Kurt Bryan, and general manager Roger Hyder.

Hyder said: “I’m very proud of our team, this is pretty big for us. Wildernesse are a cracking team and a cracking club so it’s fair to say we were the underdogs.”

Results (Canterbury names first): Foursomes: Levi Johnson and Shaun Pilbeam lost 2 down to Danny Jones and Jake Bacon, Steve Robson and Michael Vandenberg halved with Jason Jiang and Dan Shields, Luke Taylor and Stuart Gray beat Charlie Hickling and Cristo Lloyd 1 up, Chris Almond and Mark Broadhurst beat Seb Bullock and Mike Bush 1 up.

Singles: Levi Johnson halved with Danny Jones, Michael Vandenberg beat Jason Jiang 3&2, Shaun Pilbeam beat Jake Bacon 3&2, Steve Robson halved with Seb Bullock, Stuart Gray lost to Mike Broadhurst 2 down, Luke Taylor beat Dan Shields 6&5, Mark Broadhurst beat Christo Lloyd 1 up, Chris Almond lost to Charlie Hicking 5&4.