Hampshire captain Colin Roope has sprung a big surprise in his quest to win the South Eastern Group League – former pro Ryan Moody, who has never worn the county’s light blue colours, will make his debut when they tackle Essex this weekend.

The South Division winners travel to Oxfordshire’s Frilford Heath – where the first stage of European Tour Qualifying School was held last week – without any of the American-based college golfers, who have returned to the States for the autumn term.

And his hopes of reuniting Rowlands Castle’s Spanish Amateur Champion Billy McKenzie alongside former England international Darren Wright – who regained his amateur status earlier this summer, were dashed by a golf holiday booked back in January by several members of the club’s team that were crowned Hampshire Sevens champions last week at Barton-on-Sea.

Moody, who works in the docks in Southampton, has had a fine summer culminating in some strong displays by the Stoneham man in Hampshire Order of Merit events.

Ryan had a chance of winning the Stoneham Trophy on his own track in August, catching the captain’s eye as he finished fourth behind Hampshire Colts manager Tom Robson after his phenomenal display shooting eight-under for 36 holes.

Roope then asked to be paired with Moody for the Courage Trophy at Basingstoke in early September, when he finished third beating eight members of the county squad including Robson.

Colin said: “Ryan knew why I wanted to see him at close-quarters that day, because I was thinking about the team for Frilford, and he was not phased one bit by any kind of pressure that created.

“His ball-striking was phenomenal. Like Darren, who I played with in the County Foursomes a week later, Ryan hits its miles and very straight, and his short game was very impressive as well. He holes his share of putts which is always valuable in matchplay.

“I was looking to pick Darren earlier in the summer, but have no hesitation in selecting Ryan on the strength of those two displays.”

Likewise, Stoneham’s former Hampshire Junior Champion Alex Talbot, who finished third in the Stoneham Trophy – and followed that up with an eighth place finish in the Scottish Amateur Strokeplay, which was played over Gleneagles Kings Course, in late August – gets a first-team debut in Sunday’s showdown.

Roope has used a total of 13 players in the four South East League matches so far this season in his quest to win the Daily Telegraph Salver.

But even without players of the international quality of McKenzie and Wright, and with his US-based college stars back in America for the autumn term, he is confident Hampshire have enough strength in depth to beat the North Division champions for the first time since they beat Essex in 2012.

The Blackmoor member is confident his men can get their hands back on the trophy first played for in 1964, and which Hampshire have won nine times in total – including a hat-trick of victories from 2000-2.

Colin said: “I said at the start of my captaincy in January that, even though we were the defending English County Champions, my first goal was to win our division after a three-year gap, and qualify for the final.

“I am very proud we have achieved that, especially by staying undefeated in all four games. Winning the salver would be a bonus.

“I always knew we would not have the likes of George Saunders and Conor Richards if we made the final as they would be back in the States.”

“Most counties missing players of the quality Billy, Darren, George and Conor would be scratching around for players.

“But I know we have the strength in-depth to go to Frilford and not have anything to fear from our opponents.”

Roope can call on Rowlands’ assistant secretary Robson, who finished 12th at Frilford when it hosted the 2018 Brabazon Trophy, in June.

He is not going on the club trip and was a member of the team that lost to Essex four years ago, and who will be keen to avenge that defeat when captain Steve Williams’ side were favourites – even though Essex were playing on one of their own courses.

The current Hampshire skipper can also count on another former pro in the shape of Hayling’s Toby Burden.

Roope revealed: “Toby has played 11 rounds around Frilford in four EuroPro Tour competitions – including finishing fifth at the Qualifying School there in 2011 – so he has all the experience we need for the final.

“He did well when we brought him in for the Surrey game on his home course, and he loves playing for Hampshire. He misses it when he is not in the team.”

The rest of the squad includes last year’s captain Martin Young, who won the Foursomes at Hockley, two weeks ago, and the Courage for a fifth time.

He will be playing in his ninth final since 1999.

Blackmoor’s Sam Parsons, who played junior golf at Waterlooville, gets his reward for his most successful season yet after finishing fifth on the Hampshire Order of Merit with Jersey’s Jason Stokes joining Robson and Young as the only ever-presents in 2018.