REIGNING Kent Messenger Sunshine Challenge golf champion Steve Lovell has a tricky opening tie in this year's competition.

The four-handicapper who plays at Sittingbourne will entertain Michael Fillingham (h9, Faversham).

Last year's beaten finalist, Richard Randall (h2, Kings Hill) travels to Barry England (h8, Sittingbourne).

The tournament winner will represent the Kent Messenger Group in the national finals in Portugal when he/she will play against a dozen other regional newspapers' winners.

1st round draw:

Gary Morris (h15, Chestfield) v Tony Sampson (h10), Redlibbets), James Walsh (h10, Tudor Park) v Brian Issom (h15, Holtye), Nick Hales (h12, Upchurch River Valley) v Andy Smith (h5, Kings Hill), Tommy Sampson (h7, Hemstead Forest) v Milton Marsh (h17, Sene Valley), Ray Bridge (h14, Deangate Ridge) v Vincenzo Squillaci (h11, Sheerness), Peter Philpott (h18, Ashford) v Barry Barnsley (h24, Royal Cinque Ports), Peter Webber (h21, Bearsted) v Barry Venner (h15, Broome Park), Steve Lovell (h4, Sittingbourne) v Michael Fillingham (h9, Faversham), Terence Gilland (h13, North Foreland) v Gavin Rogers (h7, Tenterden), Bryan England (h15, Sittingbourne) v David Tottman (h6, Canterbury), Sid Silk (h24, Seasalter) v Patrick Goode (h14, Canterbury), John Humphreys (h17, Herne Bay) v Anthony Wright (h14, Whitstable & Seasalter), Ivor Graham (h13, Bearsted) v Graham Miles (h5, Boughton), Gary Tottman (h5, Canterbury) v Robert Wilson (h11, Bearsted), Tony Ford (h20, Boughton) v Keith Isham (h15, Hemstead Forest), Barry England (h8, Sittingbourne) v Richard Randall (h2, Kings Hill), Matthew Dadson (h9, Kings Hill) v Sheldon Fagg (h16, Boughton), Felicity Dunderdale (h16, Tudor Park) v Steve Hull (h16, Chelsfield Lakes), Anthony Piggott (h4, Boughton Park) v Lance Errington (h8, Sheerness), Guy Bettesworth (h10, Littlestone) v Steve Brewer (h16, Chart Hills), Maria Clark (h29, Upchurch River Valley) v Kevin Wood (h11, Wrotham Heath), Aidan Maginnis (h14, Deangate Ridge) v Brian Brookes (h20, Staplehurst), Bob Mellin (h11, Ashford) v David Stevenson (h9, North Foreland), David Morgan (h9, West Malling) v Trevor Hunt (h10, North Foreland), Steve Noble (h14, Sittingbourne) v Stephen Girdwood (h9, Canterbury), William Pearson (h8, Canterbury) v Tony King (h12, Sheerness), Thomas Jeff (h13, Bearsted) v Martin Sheehan (h15, West Malling), Duncan Marsh (h13, Sheerness) v David Botterill (h20, TBA), R Young (h17, Addington Court) v Lee Isham (h9, Hempstead Forest), Tom Robertson (h9, Shortlands) v A Humphrey (h14, Wrotham Park).

Byes: George Hook (h22, Sheerness), Trevor Sandford (h17, Tudor Park)

Matches to be played by Sunday, June 25.