STEVE LOVELL put up a creditable showing while representing the Kent Messenger Group in the national finals of the Sunshine Challenge golf tournament in Portugal.

The four-handicapper, who is manager of Sittingbourne and Gillingham’s Football in the Community Officer, finished joint fifth after three rounds of Stableford competition.

The Sittingbourne Golf Club member won the 15th Kent Messenger Group title by edging out two-handicapper Richard Randall (Kings Hill) at Sheerness in September.

The former Wales international, who also scored 104 goals in 275 games for Gillingham, where he was top scorer in four consecutive seasons between 1987-1992, said: "I had a brilliant week. I had been playing some of my best golf for a couple of years during the summer but, unfortunately, couldn’t match that last week.

"The courses were all outstanding and if I played them again I would score better. My tee shots and irons from the fairway were fine but my judgement around the greens and putting wasn’t all that.

"I didn’t feel as relaxed over the ball as I normally do but it was a great few days. We were all looked after well. Everything was spot on."

The affable 45-year-old, who also played for Millwall and Crystal Palace, added: "The Sunshine Challenge is a great competition and I can’t wait to try and retain my Kent Messenger title next year."

Lovell was crowned county champion by winning several rounds of matchplay locally against fellow KM readers.

Lovell, who has been a member of Sittingbourne Golf Club for 14 years and who was joined in the Algarve by his wife Mary, began his campaign in Portugal with a solid 32 points at Morgado.

Lying to the north of Portimão, it is laid out through undulating small valleys and the main characteristic is its large greens, which place demand on good putting skills.

It is one of the area’s longest courses but Lovell finished only four points behind eventual winner Chris Williams, who plays off 20 and was representing the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

Lovell also carded 32 points in his next round at the impressive Boavista Golf Club. Breathtaking views, spectacular scenery and the clear Atlantic Ocean, which is visible from most holes, all combine to make this course a delight for the golfer.

Williams cemented his place in front with another fine round of 32 points which left Lovell with it all to do during the final round at Pinta, a challenging course for golfers of all standards.

The features provided by nature are embellished by well-positioned bunkers and two ornamental lakes. All of the par 4s and par 5s are dog-legs to some degree or another, emphasising the requirement for accurate drives.

Lovell, four points behind joint leaders Williams and Darren Murray (h3, Stirling Observer), needed to produce something special but his 28 points left him off the pace and Williams went on to take the title with an outstanding 37 points.

HOW THEY FINISHED

1 Chris Williams (h20 Bournemouth Daily Echo) 105 points; 2 Darren Murray (h3, Stirling Observer) 101 points; 3 Clive Oliphant (h5, Golf North East) 100 points; 4 Bill Tierney (h5, Bristol Evening Post) 98 points; 5= Steve Lovell (h4, Kent Messenger Group) 92 points, Paul Dobson (h2, East Anglian Daily Times) 92 points; 7 Brian Hansford (h6, Dorset Echo) 86; 8 Hugh Pigot (h9, Portsmouth News) 83 points; 9 David Smith (h5, Perthshire Advertiser) 60 points.