WILTSHIRE'S hopes of a hat-trick of English county titles later this year ended in dramatic fashion at the South West qualifying event in Dorset yesterday.
Non-playing skipper Dave Bauer's side, who have been national champions for the last two years, were in pole position to become the region's representatives at this year's final in Gloucestershire in September, leading at the halfway point of the 36-hole event at Dudsbury GC, near Bournemouth.
Bowood's England international Jordan Smith went on to claim the South West amateur title with a two-round two-under-par total of 140 (72, 68), one shot clear of Devon's Ryan Fricker (72, 69) and Wiltshire teammate Yoshio Takeuchi (Broome Manor, 67, 74).
The same three players filled the top three spots in the South West Youths Championship, running alongside the main strokeplay event.
Wiltshire were also leading the chase for the national finals spot with the best aggregate score, until last year's South West amateur champion Ben Loughrey (Wrag Barn) was disqualified.
That promoted Devon to victory, with Gloucestershire second and Cornwall third.
South West Week continued today with Wiltshire, who led the inter-counties matchplay standings after two days, taking on Gloucestershire.
MORE FROM SOUTH WEST WEEK IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES
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