Andy DevaneyLancashire won the match. Sussex won the championship. And somewhere in the middle of that rather awkward arrangement, the 2026 Senior Men’s County Championship was decided by the sort of arithmetic that can make a golfer more nervous than a three-foot putt.
A 5–4 defeat to Lancashire on the final day at Trentham Golf Club might ordinarily have meant disappointment. Instead, Sussex emerged as national champions on game points, having done just enough across three days to secure their second title.
There was certainly nothing comfortable about the finish.
Eight of the nine matches between Lancashire and Sussex reached the 17th hole or beyond. With Lancashire needing a substantial victory to take the championship, every individual result carried consequences well beyond the match itself.
For Sussex, the difference between a narrow defeat and a heavy one was the difference between taking home the trophy and watching somebody else celebrate.
A Championship Decided on the Smallest Margins
Sussex arrived at the final day with victories over Cornwall and Warwickshire already secured. Those results had established their position, but the championship remained open.
Warwickshire’s 5–4 victory over Cornwall ended the latter’s title hopes, leaving Lancashire with the task of producing a sufficiently convincing win against Sussex.
They managed to beat Sussex. They could not beat them by enough.
The 5–4 scoreline reflected an afternoon in which neither side was prepared to concede much. With eight contests going deep into their respective rounds, Sussex’s ability to collect four game points despite losing the fixture ultimately proved decisive.
It was a rather fitting way to win a county championship. Team golf rarely rewards anyone for looking impressive on the first tee. What counts is how many points are still on the board when the last match finishes.
For Sussex, it brought a second Senior Men’s County Championship crown, five years after their previous triumph at Grange Park in 2021.
Martin Galway: 69 Years Old and Still Difficult to Beat
If Sussex needed somebody to demonstrate the value of experience, Martin Galway was an exceptionally convincing candidate.
At 69, one of the oldest competitors in the championship produced another outstanding performance, going unbeaten in four matches and winning all three of his singles contests.
His wider record at the Senior Men’s County Finals is even more striking: just one defeat in 27 matches.
That is an impressive return at any age. At 69, it suggests that Galway has developed a fairly effective understanding of how to make life uncomfortable for whoever happens to be standing on the opposite side of the fairway.
For Galway, though, the achievement went beyond his individual results.
“It’s personally the best moment of my golfing life and I think some of the others would also say the same.”
There was genuine emotion behind the victory, particularly with Galway acknowledging that this could be his final appearance at the event.
“I’m just stubborn and competitive! I try hard and try and keep fit – this might be my last one so I got quite emotional at the end but I’m proud of it!”
It is difficult to argue with the competitive approach. The numbers have been making Galway’s case rather convincingly for years.
Sussex’s Strength Went Beyond One Player
Galway’s contribution was substantial, but Sussex’s success depended on performances throughout the side.
John Newsome maintained an unbeaten record, winning every one of his foursomes matches.
Andrew Smith collected four points from five matches, while Dean Manning contributed three points from four. Arwel Roberts also played an important role, securing three-and-a-half points from five matches.
Those individual returns help explain how Sussex accumulated enough points to survive the final-day setback.
A championship decided by game points gives particular significance to results that might otherwise receive less attention. Even when the overall match is lost, the points collected along the way can still determine who finishes with the title.
Sussex’s closing encounter with Lancashire demonstrated that principle rather neatly.
Preparation, Team Spirit and a Well-Earned Celebration
Captain Colin Jones had placed considerable emphasis on preparation before the finals, bringing the squad together for training and team sessions.
The captain pointed to the work undertaken before arriving at Trentham as an important part of their success.
“An awful lot of hard work has gone into it – the players have worked very hard, we had two sessions last week and we had another get together to get us all singing from the same hymnsheet – which is exactly what the team did this week – there’s been great team spirit.”
That collective approach was tested right to the closing holes against Lancashire. Sussex ultimately had to accept defeat in their final fixture, but their performances over the championship had already given them the points they needed.
Jones admitted that relief was his overriding emotion once the outcome was settled. There were, however, more enjoyable matters to attend to.
“We’re going for a meal and there might be a bit of ‘lemonade’ being consumed – we’ll enjoy ourselves but I’m feeling relieved more than anything at the moment!”
After three days of competitive golf, a title decided on points and an afternoon that refused to settle down, a little lemonade seems entirely reasonable.
