Steve Lovell has created history by winning the KM Group Sunshine Golf Challenge title for the third time.

The four-handicapper from Sittingbourne won the title at the prestigious The London Club last Friday by beating Darren Sharkey (h18, Farleigh Court) 2&1.

Lovell, who won the Kent title in 2004 and 2006, didn’t have it all his own way during finals day, as he was three down after three holes in his morning semi-final against Shaun Skirrow (h17, Royal Cinque Ports). But he showed all his battling qualities to fight back and win 5&3 while Sharkey – the nephew of last year’s winner Steve Sharkey – beat Ivor Graham (h13, Bearsted) 5&3 in his semi-final.

Lovell (pictured) always had the edge in the final and was 2-up after three holes and stretched that lead to 3-up after 10 holes.

But Sharkey proved a difficult opponent and refused to be beaten. He never let Lovell – who is now manager of Ashford Town Football Club and scored more than 100 goals for Gillingham – stretch his lead but lost on the 17th hole when he chipped through the green and Lovell made par.

Lovell will now represent the KM Group in an all-expenses paid holiday against 13 other regional newpaper winners in the sunny Algarve, Portugal, between November 1-8.

He said: "The Sunshine Challenge is a great competition and I am once again delighted to represent the KM Group in the national finals."