Garry McFarlane begins the defence of his island title as he drives off the first against Sean Mills, right, last night. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0775386)

JAMIE BLONDEL became the first seed to crash from the island championships just when it seemed he had wriggled off the hook against George Melhuish last night at L’Ancresse.

Blondel had clawed his way back from four down to square the match on the 15th.

But from close to the middle of the 16th fairway, he punched his second not only over the green but also the road to finish out of bounds on the pathway alongside the 17th teebox.

It was a gross misjudgment by the island star and just when he imagined he might get back all-square a second time up 17, Melhuish rolled in a 30-footer for a birdie three and Blondel found himself needing to sink a five foot putt for a half in threes.

He got it, but at the last the pre-match favourite failed to get up and down from the front fringe and lost the match to Melhuish’s par.

Melhuish now plays another fellow L’Ancresse man in Steve Mahy, who sailed past Neil Tanguy 7 and 6.