Sixteen sides are just two wins away from reaching the finals of the inaugural 2022 British Inter-Clubs Mixed Team Championships.
But there were some nerve-wracking moments for some teams before they won their third round matches.
Two Scottish teams became one after Perthshire’s Muthill GC edged a great encounter at Edinburgh’s Dalmahoy GC.
The tie was poised at 2-2 before Muthill pinched the final game on the last hole to earn a fourth round home tie against Northumberland’s Stocksfield GC, who themselves pipped Billingham GC 3-2.
Elsewhere in the northern division, Scarborough South Cliff GC saw off Woolley Park GC 5-0 and will now visit Fleetwood GC, who edged out Rochdale GC 3-2.
There were some bitten fingernails in the Midlands too as Shropshire’s Hill Valley GC claimed a last 16 place at the expense of Cheshire’s Vale Royal Abbey GC.
Hill Valley’s Ian Sinclair explained: “The match was played in great spirit and competitive friendly respect with the result being decided by the final group going into two extra holes to decide the final outcome of the match.”
Next up will be a home tie against Leicester’s Beedles Lake GC, who also nicked an impressive away victory against Newcastle-under-Lyme GC 3-2.
Also in the Midlands, Nottinghamshire’s Beeston Fields GC made the most of home advantage to see off Derby GC 4-1.
Next up for Beeston Fields is a trip to Lincolnshire’s sole surviving team Belton Woods GC, who performed admirably in their 4-1 away win against Belton Park GC.
First team into the last 16 were top 100 club Camberley Heath GC who overcame Royal Mid Surrey 4-1 to earn a trip to Enfield GC, who beat Mid Herts GC 3.5-1.5.
Elsewhere in the south east, Cambridgeshire’s Girton GC edged Suffolk’s Links GC 3-2 after another exciting encounter in which all fives games went to the 17th hole at least.
Their reward is a visit to Bedfordshire GC, who overcame Northamptonshire County GC.
Down in the south west, another top 100 club Stoneham GC marched on, this time with a 5-0 defeat of Romsey GC.
Next up for the Hampshire champions is an away game against Dorset’s Dudsbury GC, who defeated Devon’s last-remaining side Stover GC 4-1.
Joining them will be Herefordshire’s Leominster GC, who saw off Wishaw GC 3-2 in a close tie that saw all the games going to the 16th hole at least.
Leominster will now play Wales’ only remaining team Mond Valley GC in the last 16.
All four regional winners will qualify for the national finals at Boavista Golf Resort in Portugal’s Western Algarve in November – and the right to be called British champions.