GOLF: Slade lifts county title (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

GOLF: Slade lifts county title

2:00pm Monday 21st May 2012 in Sport

BOWOOD’S Garry Slade clinched the County Championship title for the first time on Sunday.

Slade, from Studley near Calne, shot a four round total of 277 – five under par - to emerge victorious from the two-day event held at the Salisbury & South Wilts and High Post clubs.

The Wiltshire county team player carded rounds of 67 and 66 (nine under) to lead home player Robbie Busher by four shots after day one.

The second day at High Post proved more testing for the field of 71 with high winds and cold conditions, Busher the only player under par in the first round to cut Slade’s lead to just a shot.

Slade remained in front for the final round before a birdie on the 16th proved decisive and final approaches to the final two holes wrapped up his victory.

He also picked up the Searle Salver (for best 36 holes in the Team Shield on day one) and the Swift Cup for lowest Championship round of 66 (on countback).

Busher was tied on 281 with Broome Manor’s Tom Burley, but Burley claimed the runner-up spot on fourth-round countback after a best-of-the-day 68.

Andy Rideout (West Wilts) was a further six shots back in fourth, with Marlborough’s Paul Green scoring consistently for fifth. Teenagers Jack Charman (North Wilts) and Ben Amor (Marlborough were sixth and seventh.

Slade’s triumph also earned him a place in the Wiltshire team to defend the South West Championships title at Cumberwell Park GC, near Bradford on Avon next month.

County skipper David Bauer, whose vice-captain is Pete Bicknell, also included much of the side that went on to lift the English County Championship last September.

Wiltshire (for South West Week): Ben and Josh Loughrey (Wrag Barn), Jordan Smith and Garry Slade (Bowood), Tom Burley, Kevin Phillips and Yoshio Takeuchi (Broome Manor), Robbie Busher (Salisbury & South Wilts), Ben Stow (Rushmore), Ben Amor and Paul Green (Marlborough), Ali James (Cumberwell).

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP REACTION & PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES