Reigning Kent Messenger Group Sunshine Challenge champion Gregg Harrison has been knocked out in the first round of this year's competition.

Harrison, a 14-handicapper at Gillingham, landed a tough draw with an away fixture at the notoriously difficult Walmer and Kingsdown course and 12-handicapper Andrew Killip came through 2&1, having been two-down to the defending champ after nine holes.

Harrison said: “I’d never played the course before and local knowledge was probably the difference. We had a good game and I enjoyed it and I’ll be back next year to try again.”

Killip added: "Gregg was 2-up at the turn but the back nine at Walmer is tricky and it got the better of him. Home advantage is worth a few shots at Walmer - it’s hilly and it can get quite windy. I was over the moon to win.”

Killip, who lives in Deal, is looking forward to the second round, with the eventual winner heading to the Algarve in November for the national final against other regional newspaper winners.

Killip added: “The funny thing is, I did not even know I was in the competition at first. My partner entered me without telling me but I am delighted to be in the second round draw. I have never played golf in the Algarve and I would love to make it to the final.”

1st round results: Lloyd Foster (h7, Whitstable & Seasalter) beat Brian Butterworth (h7, Cray Valley) 5&3, David Morgan (h10, West Malling) beat Andy Parker (h10, Tudor Park) 5&3, Paul Appleton (h23, Deangate Ridge) beat Jeff Thomas (h13, Bearsted) 4&3, Nick Hales (h14, Upchurch River Valley) beat Philip Noble (h7, Lydd) 1-up, Tony Piggott (h6, Boughton) beat Michael Fillingham (h8, Faversham) 5&4, Alan Carter (h8, Lydd) beat Bernard Mee (h22, Bearsted) 2&1, Steven Sharkey (h13, Farleigh Court) walkover John Wheble (h18, Sene Valley), Tom Robertson (h9, Shortlands) beat Andrew Barnard (h8, Beckenham Place) 2&1, James Walsh (h12, Tudor Park) beat Ivor Graham (h14, Bearsted) 1-up, Stephen Twort (h18, Kings Hill) beat Michael Hobbs (h9, Sundridge Park) 5&3, Peter Ludlow (h14, Gillingham) beat Anthony Wright (h15, Whitstable & Seasalter) 4&3, Gary Tottman (h6, Canterbury) beat Tony Ford (h16, Chesterfield) 2&1, Tony Sampson (h9, Redlibbets) beat Peter Philpott (h18, Lydd) 4&3, Steve Lovell (h5, Sittingbourne) beat John Humphrys (h14, Herne Bay) 5&3, Andrew Killip (h12, Walmer & Kingsdown) beat Gregg Harrison (h17, Gillingham) 2&1, Anthony Bensted (h11, Whitstable & Seasalter) beat Duncan Marsh (h11, Sheerness) 4&3, Gordon Butcher (h15, Romney Warren) beat Patricia Benstead (h14, Whitstable & Seasalter) 6&5, Shaun Skirrow (h22, Royal Cinque Ports) beat Noel McAllen (h19, Ashford) 3&2, Pat Goode (h15, Canterbury) beat Darren Ford (h20, Bexleyheath) 6&4, Stephen Neale (h21, Gillingham) beat Laurence Harvey (h7, Herne Bay) 3&2.