GILLINGHAM golfer Gregg Harrison is the new KM Sunshine Challenge champion.

The 18-handicapper took the matchplay title in thrilling style at Canterbury Golf Club on Friday after beating Bob Davies (h12, Addington Palace) at the first extra sudden death hole.

Harrison, a 49-year-old civil servant, will now represent the Kent Messenger Group in the national finals in Portugal in November.

He will battle it out with a dozen other regional newspaper groups' winners over three rounds in the sunny Algarve.

He said: "I'm delighted. I've never been to Portugal before and will be proud to represent the KM Group. This is the first time I've enetered the Sunshine Challenge - it's a great competition."