Stokes and Gray confirmed for 'creme de la creme'

Stokes, who will take on Guernsey champion Steve Mahy in the CI final at L'Ancresse on Sunday week, will return here eight days later for the first round of the expanded 2016 Ravenscroft, which is the richest golf event in the islands with a first prize of £500 cash or cash equivalent, if won by an amateur.

Also making a first appearance at the Guernsey Press-backed tournament is former CI champion and newly-crowned Hampshire seniors title-holder, Trevor Gray, who is eagerly awaiting this new challenge.

Gray, a six-time former Jersey champion, won the 2016 Hampshire Seniors title at Weybrook Park Golf Club last month.

The 59-year-old Royal Jersey member went one step further than last year, winning by one stroke in the 27-hole championship.

'I've been trying to win a Hampshire title for 43 years and I've finally achieved it,' said Gray, who has won the CI title on several occasions.

'I'm very much looking forward to playing in Guernsey. The event has attracted a lot of interest over here and it is a quality field.'

Another new face at the fourth staging of the Ravenscroft, which will run for five evenings from Monday 4 July, is new Royal Guernsey club professional Andy Myers.

He will be the only professional in the expanded field, having replaced Irishman Michael Durcan, who twice went close to winning the highly-prestigious event at La Grande Mare.

And with 2015 Guernsey seniors champion Nigel Le Noury and 2016 junior championship runner-up Isaac Bate, also in the field, the strongest field in the competition's short history is already confirmed.