Loughreys at the double

Loughrey, who is currently ranked fourth in the English Golf Union’s order of merit, birdied the fifth extra hole at Cumberwell to take the title.

Tom Burley led following the first day at Kingsdown after shooting two three-under-par rounds of 69, to finish three ahead of Nick Mumford, David Howell’s ex-caddy.

Mumford, known as the Jockey, fired an opening round of 68, which proved the lowest round of the tournament and won him the Swift Cup.

The Colts Championship was decided on the first day with Loughrey’s brother Josh carding one-under-par, to win by two shots from Stow.

On day two at Cumberwell, Burley hit a steady 73 but Ben Loughrey improved on his first round of one-over-par as he produced three rounds of one-under.

This was in spite of using a three wood instead of a replacement driver at many of the longer tees, after he broke his regular driver at the Irish Amateur Championship the previous week.

Stow carded both one under and two under to join Loughrey in the club house lead, and Burley, in the final group, just missed out on a play-off by a shot.

The play-off was contested over the first, second and ninth holes and Loughrey birdied the first hole and parred the other two.

After sinking a six foot putt on the second to stay a shot behind, Stow then produced a birdie on the third hole to take the game to sudden death.

After the fourth was shared, Stow just missed a 20-footer at the fifth and Loughrey birdied from six feet to take the victory.

Meanwhile, the Wiltshire team has been announced for South West Week, the annual meeting of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.

The championship also includes the 36-hole Strokeplay Championship which decides the south west representatives for the English County Finals.

As winners of the Strokeplay Championship in the last three years and winners and runners-up in the matchplay series, Wiltshire has an excellent recent record in the tournament.

Team is: Kevin Phillips (captain, Broome Manor), Dave Bauer (vice captain, Marlborough), Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn), Ben Stow (Rushmore), Tom Burley (Broome Manor), Ali James (Cumberwell), Tom Ruddle (Broome Manor), Josh Loughrey (Wrag Barn), Sam Matton (Bowood), Jordan Smith (Bowood), Scott Ward (Broome Manor), Jack Hiscock (Marlborough).

Elsewhere, the draw for the county matchplay at Ogbourne Downs on September 11-12 has been made.

Full draw is: Yoshio Takeuchi v Josh Loughrey, Paul Matthews v Sam Matton, Nick Mumford v Tom Ruddle, James Evans v Ali James, Ben Stow v Kevin Phillips, Tom Burley v James Hannam, Ben Loughrey v Stuart Wells, Scott Ward v Jordan Smith.

Gill Loughrey, Roxanne Roberts and Katie Warren won the team shield for Wrag Barn at the Wiltshire Ladies County Championship at Marlborough, having returned the three best gross scores in the qualifying rounds. Loughrey also reached the semi-final of the overall competition and won the Sybil Parsons Plate in the over 40s category.

Meanwhile, snooker legend Willie Thorne will be attending a charity golf day at Ogbourne Downs on July 2.

The day is raising funds for Prospect Hospice and there are still places available.

Each team consists of four players and costs £200 per team which includes a bacon roll and coffee on arrival, plus dinner including an audience with host Willie Thorne.

Prospect Hospice are also offering three people with the chance to play in a team with Thorne.

The day’s action will include a ‘longest drive’ and ‘nearest the pin’ competition while the evening’s entertainment will include an auction.

For further information, please call Dave on 07545 270277.

To enter a team, please download and complete the registration form at www.prospect-hospice.net and send it, plus a cheque payable to Prospect Hospice to: Charity Golf Day, Prospect Hospice, Moormead Road, Wroughton, Swindon, SN4 9BY.

Meanwhile, Terry Bolton won Carswell Golf Club’s May mid-month medal, scoring a nett 64.

He pipped second-placed David Read, who scored a nett 67, while Andrew McAllister was third.