REIGNING Kent Messenger Sunshine Challenge golf champion Steve Lovell is through to the semi-finals of this year's competition - but only just.

The four-handicapper from Sittingbourne was one down with two to play against Patrick Goode (h14, Canterbury) but won the 17th par-3 hole and parred the 18th to take the match in extra holes.

He only needed one, though, as a birdie at the opening par-5 gave him victory.

And now he will play Richard Randall (h2, Kings Hill), who he beat is last year's final. Randall had a easier passage into the last four when he beat Kevin Hood (h11, Wrotham Heath) 4&3.

The other semi-final will be played between Tony Sampson (h9, Redlibbets) and Trevor Sandford (h17). Sampson beat Anthony Piggott (h4, Boughton Park) while Sandford beat Bob Melin (h11, Ashford).

The semi-finals will be played at Canterbury Golf Club on Friday, September 29 and the winner will represent the Kent Messenger Group in Portugal between November 5-12 when he will take on 12 other regional newspapers' winners for the right to be named national Sunshine Challenge champion.