ONLY three players have won the Courage Trophy back-to-back in its 59-year history, writes Andrew Griffin.

But Stoneham’s Ryan Moody knows if he can retain the Hampshire strokeplay title he won 12 months ago on his home course, greater glory probably awaits.

For the 30-year-old Southampton Docks worker, who spent two years playing mini-tour golf as a pro before returning to the amateur ranks four years ago, is 9.75 points behind county team-mate Toby Burden in the 2021 Hampshire Order of Merit.

Hayling member Burden, who has reached the last three finals of the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship, is in pole position to win the Cullen Quaich after finishing third in last week’s Blackmoor Bowl.

Even if Moody can become the first player to retain the Courage Trophy since Martin Young pulled off a hat-trick of wins from 2012-14, he will need Burden to have something of an off-day if he is to become the sixth different player to land the Cullen Quaich since it was introduced by Hampshire Golf back in 2014.

Eastleigh's Moody, who is one of four players who can win the season crown on Sunday, said: “Obviously I want to play as well as possible and try to retain the Courage.

“I have played quite consistently this season – winning the Bramshaw Open was great – I always enjoy winning that title at my old club.

“I have been scaling down the amount of time playing and practising over the last few weeks as the big events have been played apart from the Courage.

“I have also been moving house which has affected that.

“My putting has not been as good as it can be, but I have been hitting it well this year since the lockdown ended."