Young Sam has his eyes on the title

The 16-year-old Lee-on-the-Solent prodigy has already won the prestigious Courage Trophy this season and, despite his tender years, has quickly become an established fixture in the county team.

Hutsby is perceived as the biggest threat to the likes of Ryan Henley and Martin Young, who by rights should have a stack of county titles to their credit.

The fact that both have yet to wear the county crown will heighten their determination to win at Blackmoor.

Henley, from Stoneham, has already claimed two major scalps this season - the Selbourne Salver at Blackmoor then the Hampshire Salver for having the best combined score in the Selbourne and the Hampshire Hog.

Young was well up in the West of England early in the season and the England international from Brokenhurst Manor certainly has the ability to beat all-comers this weekend as indeed has his young brother, Jonathan.

Neither Henley nor Young want to join the list of fine players who have never won the county title, which includes, incredibly, Justin Rose - although, to be fair , he didn't have too many cracks at it.

With a handicap limit of four on this week's field, there is quality in abundance and the man everyone will be keeping an eye on is Mark Thistleton, who beat Stoneham's Mark Bicknell in last year's final.

Hayling Islander Thistleton has surprisinly not moved on too much from last year's success but is a major threat nevertheless as indeed is the Hampshire captain Kevin Weeks, who although in his 40s is as good as ever provided an old back injury can take the strain of three days of continuous competitive golf.

As well as Hutsby, the threat from the younger brigade could come from Jonathan Watt, the Brokenhurst player who beat Hutsby for the Hampshire Youth crown last summer, and, of course, Bicknell.

Strokeplay qualifying for the championship gets under way on Friday with the final itself played on Sunday afternoon at about 2.45pm.