SOUTH WEST WEEK GOLF, DAY THREE: Wiltshire sweep to South West Counties title (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SOUTH WEST WEEK GOLF, DAY THREE: Wiltshire sweep to South West Counties title

10:10pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in Wiltshire Sport By Owen Houlihan

WILTSHIRE will get the chance to defend their English County title later this year after romping to victory in the South West Counties Amateur Championship team event at Cumberwell Park Golf Club today.

The county, who claimed the national title for the first time in Yorkshire last year, clinched the regional prize for the fifth time in six years by a massive 25 shots at the Bradford on Avon club.

Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) also carried off the individual honours with a total of 133, nine under par, for his two rounds, finishing four clear.

Wiltshire's six-man team were the only county with an aggregate score under par, Loughrey's fellow England squad players, Jordan Smith (Bowood), Ben Stow (Rushmore) and Josh Loughrey (Wrag Barn) finishing on two under par for the 36 holes.

Cumberwell Park's Ali James finished on two over par, while Tom Burley was four over.

This year's national county finals take place at Beau Desert on September 29-30.

Today's event was part of South West Championship Week at Cumberwell Park, which resumes tomorrow with the South West Week team matchplay event.

Wiltshire, who won their opening two matches on Sunday and Monday, face fellow unbeaten side Somerset, who are ahead with a better games won total.

The hosts, who completed a clean sweep of all the South West Week prizes last year, then face Gloucestershire and Dorset on Thursday and Friday.

MORE FROM SOUTH WEST WEEK TOMORROW AT GAZETTEANDHERALD.CO.UK AND WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK AND IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES