THE Examiner’s first-ever Matchplay champion Nick Wilson had to pull out all the stops to book a place in the quarter-finals of this year’s tournament after finding himself two down with two to play against Steve Whiteley.

Laying dormie two on Whiteley’s home course at Meltham, Wilson watched his opponent with a shot in hand, put his drive onto the green at the par three 17th.

However, the Huddersfield man also found the green and then sank a 40-ft putt for a birdie, while a stunned Whiteley three-putted, but still went up the 18th one up.

Wilson’s par was good enough to win the last hole, and he came up with another par on the first extra hole to seal the match, leaving Whiteley to remark: ‘I feel I’ve been mugged!’

His was not the only close match however, as Charles Beaumont was also taken to the first extra hole by his Crosland Heath clubmate Simon Whitham before finally sealing victory, and Meltham’s David Law was another to cut it fine, just edging out Cleckheaton’s Simon Mear (brother of 2007 winner Andy Mear), winning one up, while another Meltham member Ian Saxton was four down at one stage to Longley Park’s Andrew Johnson before turning it round to win 2 and 1.

There are just eight men now in contention for the first prize of a golfing holiday in Vilamoura, and the quarter-final draw has thrown up some interesting ties, not least Fixby’s Jonny Heyes, and now the joint lowest handicapped played remaining on six, being matched against Bradley Hall’s Dave Robinson, who is the highest handicapper on 26.

Heyes is a regular participant on finals day, but will have to be at his best to concede 20 shots on Robinson’s home course.

Another dark horse is Woodhall Hills’ Shaun Acaster, making his first foray into the Examiner competition and carrying a 16-handicap which obviously served him well in his 6 and 5 defeat of Dewsbury’s Jimmy Caine in the last round.

Acaster now visits Charlie Beaumont at Crosland Heath.

Nick Wilson’s great escape with Whiteley has earned him a home draw with Meltham’s Saxton, while the final tie features two players who are regulars on the Examiner Overseas Challenge, with Law taking on Doherty at Meltham.

Finals day is on Thursday, September 23, where the eventual winner will be presented with the prize of a week’s golfing holiday to Vilamoura, in Portugal.

But there are also prizes on offer for second, third and fourth places.

The full draw, to be completed by August 31st is:

Dave Robinson (Bradley Hall, 26) v Jonny Heyes (Huddersfield, 6).

Charlie Beaumont (Crosland Heath, 17) v Shaun Acaster (Woodhall Hills, 16).

Nick Wilson (Huddersfield, 6) v Ian Saxton (Meltham, 8).

David Law (Meltham, 8) v Eddie Doherty (Longley Park, 11).

Bookings for the holiday, departing from Manchester on Thursday, November 25, are now coming in quickly so anyone interested in joining this year’s Examiner Overseas Challenge party should contact Paul Hanson, at Hanson Travel, 8 Lowtown, Pudsey LS28 7AA. Tel 0113 239 3300.

Based at the 4-star Vila Gale Marina Hotel in Vilamoura, the cost of the holiday to golfers is £699, and £399 for non golfers.

The cost includes bed and breakfast, flights to and from Manchester with coach transfers from Huddersfield, transfers from the hotel to the courses during the week.

There is also a prize-giving dinner and prestigious prizes, and of course five rounds of golf and involvement in three competitions at the Laguna, Pinhal, Millennium and Old Courses.