BARRY Forster, of North Wilts Golf Club, clinched victory at the 36th Hills Wiltshire Professionals Golf Championship at Marlborough Golf Club.

After the morning round, Craig Bell, of Cumberwell Park near Bradford on Avon, and Forster were joint leaders at one under par.

In second place was Dan Carter (Upavon GC) at level, with Bowood’s Nick Brennan, Charlie Cossins, of Ogbourne Downs, and Henry Pallas (Hamptworth GC) among those tied on one over.

The first nine holes of the afternoon round saw Forster produce three birdies and Carter two, but Bell dropped away with six bogeys.

The back nine proved disappointing for Carter after a double bogey on the 16th saw him finish one over par.

Forster’s birdie on the 16th saw him finish two under overall to secure the title.

l WILTSHIRE Ladies concluded the Inter County Match Week at Somerset’s Mendip Golf Club in fourth place.

Up against the host county, plus Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Gloucestershire, Wiltshire played five matches, featuring foursomes and singles.

Wiltshire lost to Dorset (5-4), followed by defeats to Cornwall (6-3) and Gloucestershire (7-2).

However, the penultimate day proved spectacular for Carol Main’s team, with a fine win over Devon (5-4).

During her singles match against Devon, Chippenham’s Ali Grandison bagged a hole-in-one at the eighth before Wiltshire played hosts to Somerset on the final day and won 6 -3.

l WILTSHIRE’S boys team earned the right to defend their English county title on home turf at Bradford on Avon’s Cumberwell Park course next month by winning the South West Boys Championship at Bristol & Clifton.

The team - Jake Bolton, Dom Burgess, James Cooper, Jamie Cooper, Max Mulcock and Tom Stagg and managed by Ian Welding - won the championship for the third year running by a 16-shot margin over runners-up Dorset, while Bolton was crowned the individual South West champion.

l REIGNING Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional champion Paul Hendriksen has set his sights on qualifying to play in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth next year.

He leads the PGA in England and Wales (South West) order of merit at the halfway stage and can consolidate his position next week in The Players Championship at Cumberwell Park.

He said: “I have never played a European Tour event although I’ve come close so many times. That is why I play golf in the hope that one day I will get to Wentworth and play in front of thousands of people.”

The 36-hole event takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday and is preceded by a Monday pro-am, which has attracted 52 teams to be played with a two two-tee start in the morning and afternoon.