FORMER Came Down captain Brian Hansford booked himself a place in the sun when he won the Dorset Echo Sunshine Challenge Match Play final at Wolfedale Golf Course at Charminster.

The six handicapper beat Weymouth Golf Club's Neil Paul (17 hcap) 3 and 2 to become Dorset Echo champion and take first prize of a seven-night golfing holiday in Portugal from November 6-13 where he will represent us in a competition against other regional newspaper champions.

The in-form Hansford, who has just had his handicap cut to six after winning the September Medal at Came Down, went off like a train in the final and was three up after four - including a two off the third where he sank a monster putt from above the pin on the sloping green.

Paul managed to pull that back to two after nine holes but Hansford continued to play steady golf, hitting well off the tee in blustery conditions before winning the contest on the 16th.

"The wind was very strong and it was difficult to judge your second shot but I was able to scramble it," said Hansford who had to give his opponent eight shots.

In his semi-final earlier in the day Hansford, who was a losing quarter-finalist in the Sunshine Challenge two years ago, beat 14-handicapper Richard Denning from the Dorset Golf & CC by 2 and 1.

"Both games were pretty close all the way through and I'm delighted to have won," he added. "I have been to Portugal three times and the golf there is fabulous so I'm really looking forward to my prize."

Paul, who qualified for the final by beating his Weymouth clubmate Alan Bates (11 hcap) on an extra hole after they were all square after 18, said he was happy with the way he had played throughout the tournament.

"I've played in it a few times but this is the only time I have got past the second round," he said. "I've had some very good matches along the way and I would recommend the competition to anyone. It's a well organised event and you get opportunities to play other courses in a match play environment."

In the Algarve, Hansford will enjoy accommodation at the superb four-star Tivoli Almansor Hotel in Carvoeiro and play four rounds of tournament golf at the Salgados, Morgado, Pinta and Boavista courses.

Also included in his prize are the flight to Portugal and a hire car.

Runner-up Neil Paul received a voucher giving him £250 off a Bill Goff Tours golf holiday while both losing semi-finalists receive similar vouchers worth £50.

A special thank you to Wolfedale Golf Course at Charminster for extending the courtesy of their course to the Echo for finals day.