Reigning champions looking to make it back-to-back wins at Sunningdale Foursomes

Reigning Sunningdale Foursomes champions Dylan Shaw-Radford and Harley Smith remain on course to become the first back-to-back winners of the historic event since 2004 after advancing to the semi-finals on Thursday. 

Elite amateurs Shaw-Radford and Smith - who represent Huddersfield Golf Club and the Rayleigh Club, Essex, respectively - were forced to dig deep in a quarter-final match of the highest quality against professionals Tom Shadbolt and Ben Evans.

The England double act had initially held the advantage early on the front nine, only for Shadbolt and Evans to fight back to take the lead on the 11th hole. Back-to-back hole wins on 12 and 13 would see Shaw-Radford and Smith edge in front, before their opponents squared proceedings again on the 16th.

However, the crucial moment came on the 17th hole, with Shadbolt - who had played superbly - lipping out with a short putt to hand the advantage to last year’s winners, who would ultimately secure their 1-up victory with a halve on the final hole.

“It was such a tough match and it just seemed like it would come down to who would be the first to make a mistake,” Shaw-Radford said. “There really wasn’t anything in it, but we stayed focused and we are delighted to still be here.”

Smith added: “It feels great to get the win but that was our toughest match of the week. We just had to keep going. It was so close throughout and it was very surprising when Tom missed that putt on 17. He had putted so well and lipped out on a number of occasions on longer putts. They had been unlucky with quite a few putts.

“I feel like we are playing well and we trust each other on the golf course. I think that is key in this format and we absolutely love the Sunningdale Foursomes. We will rest up and look forward to heading out tomorrow."

Earlier in the day, Smith and Shaw-Radford had booked their quarter-final spot after returning a 4 & 3 win against Glen Portelli and James Jankowski.

But it was arguably Shadbolt and Evans who came into the last-eight match looking the stronger, following a resounding 4 & 3 victory over Solheim Cup duo Georgia Hall and Charley Hull.

Shaw-Radford and Smith will now play David Corben and Harry Crockett in the first semi-final, who overcame Robert McGuirk and Liam Brown 6 & 5.

The second semi-final will see the pair of Monty Holcombe and Oscar Lent play Angus Flanagan and Harry Walch. Holcombe and Lent had earlier defeated Hugh Foley and Jake Hapgood 1-up in their quarter-final, with Flanagan and Walch seeing off two-time DP World Tour winner Callum Shinkwin and Dan Brooks 2 & 1.

A full list of updated results and scores from the Sunningdale Foursomes can be found here