SOUTHAMPTON Golf Club have been celebrating one of their most famous victories - over the auld enemy from up The Avenue.

There was a heap of local pride at stake when Southampton met Stoneham in the second round of the Mail on Sunday Team Challenge, and the underdogs from the city's Municipal Course, won the day.

It was a sign of how serious Stoneham took the match that they included England internationals Darren Henley and David Porter in their four-man team.

Southampton suffered an 11th-hour setback when club champion Andy Mackinnon pulled out of the match through illness, but his replacement Guiliano Soverna heroically produced what proved to be a match-winning performance against Danny McKillen.

The contest was precariously balanced at one match each when Soverna edged a one-hole victory. It tipped the scales Southampton's way after the last match between Michael Carter and Henley finished all square.

The tie was tense and exciting right up to the last putt of the last match on the last green. John Baynes, runner-up to Alan Mew in the Southampton Open last June, opened up with a chip in for a birdie against double national under-18 champion Porter.

The Southampton youngster followed up with another chip in for an eagle at the ninth on his way to a brilliant 4 & 3 victory. Ryan Henley, like brother Darren a member of the Hampshire county squad, levelled the tie by beating David Goodman 3 & 2.

Then came Soverna's gutsy effort, but Stoneham fought back with Darren Henley taking the lead at the 14th against Mick Carter who immediately hit back to level.

Going up the last, both players hit perfect drives. Carter needed a half to win the match but Henley had a birdie putt for Stoneham to take it to extra holes. He missed and Carter rolled in his par putt from three feet for the half.

"To beat a strong Stoneham team like that in a national competition was great for the club," said Southampton secretary Don Campbell.

"I admit it favoured us playing at the Municipal but the Southampton lads still had to play above themselves to beat Stoneham, who showed excellent sportsmanship in defeat. Now we can't wait to see who we'll be playing in the next round."

Baynes, meanwhile, has ambitions to join forces with Porter in the Hampshire county team one day.

The 19-year-old four handicapper, who is a self-taught golfer, is hoping to get down to scratch this year.

"I'm off to university at Bournemouth at the end of the summer," says Baynes, "but before I'll have plenty of time to practice hard at my game. I would love to make it into the county team one day."

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