REIGNING Kent Messenger Sunshine Challenge golf champion Steve Lovell is through to the last eight of this year’s competition.

He booked his place in the quarter-finals with a comfortable 6&4 win over twice former champion Andy Smith (h6, Kings Hill).

He now travels to play 14-handicapper Patrick Goode from Canterbury.

The winner of this year’s competition - the 15th Sunshine Challenge to be held - will represent the Kent Messenger in the national finals this November in Portugal. He will battle it out against more than a dozen other regional newspapers’ winners.

Quarter-final draw

Patrick Goode (h14, Canterbury) v Steve Lovell (h4, Sittingbourne), Kevin Hood (h11, Wrotham Heath) v Richard Randall (h2, Kings Hill), Trevor Sandford (h17, Tudor Park) v Bob Mellin (h11, Ashford), Tony Sampson (h10, Redlibbets) v Anthony Piggott (h4, Boughton Park).

Third round results

Richard Randall (h2, Kings Hill) beat Barry Barnsley (h24, Royal Cinque Ports) 7&6, Steve Lovell (h4, Sittingbourne) beat Andy Smith (h6, Kings Hill) 6&4, Bob Mellin (h11, Ashford) beat Dave Tottman (h6, Canterbury) 3&2, Patrick Goode (h14, Canterbury) beat Matthew Dadson (h9, Kings Hill) 20th hole, Kevin Hood (h11, Wrotham Heath) beat Gary Tottman (h5, Canterbury) 5&3, Trevor Sandford (h17, Tudor Park) beat Felicity Dunderdale (h16, Tudor Park) 6&4, Anthony Piggott (h4, Boughton Park) beat Duncan Marsh (h13, Sheerness) 20th hole, Tony Sampson (h10, Redlibbets) beat David Morgan (h9, West Malling) 3&1.