KENT taxi driver Gary Tottman will be flying out to Portugal this Sunday looking to be crowned national Sunshine Challenge golf champion.

Tottman, 29, who plays off a five handicap at Canterbury Golf Club, became the 13th winner of the Kent Messenger title in September when he beat 10-handicap Wrotham Heath member David Jenner 6&4 in the matchplay event final.

He will be battling against other regional newspaper winners next week in the Algarve for the right to be crowned national champion.

Tottman, whose father Dave won the title in 1994, said: "I am thrilled to be representing the Kent Messenger Group. "I have joined the trip as a paying customer for the past two years and I love it.

"It is a great week. The weather is good, you meet many new friends and the courses are excellent. I have been practising hard and hopefully I will do well. We'll see."