BROOME Manor’s Tom Law retained the Wiltshire County Championship title at the weekend after he was the only man to break 70 in both rounds of the competition at High Post Golf Club near Salisbury.

Law posted two one-under par rounds of 69 for a two-under par total, to beat Kingsdown’s Paul McMullen by two strokes after he finished on level par.

McMullen lifted himself into contention with a brilliant five-under second-round of 65, which was just one shot off the course record, but it was not enough to overhaul Law, who sealed his victory with a birdie at the final hole.

“I didn’t expect to win at all, but it is certainly a very nice feeling to have done it again,” said 21-year-old Law.

“To win it once is great, so to do it twice in a row really is quite something.

“Coming off the 16th green of my second round, I heard someone had shot a 65. I didn’t know what they had done in the first round, but I thought I was probably going to need to birdie one of the last two holes.

“Luckily I holed a nice 12-footer or so on the final hole, which ended up putting me two shots clear, so I was thrilled.”

Law, Broome Manor colleague Mike Cox (68) and Wrag Barn’s Max Drayton (69) were the only men to break 70 in the morning’s opening round, but Law was the one to keep his consistent scoring going into the second.

McMullen’s brilliant round got him back to level par overall, while Salisbury & South Wilts’ Tom Stagg, James Cooper, of Cumberwell Park, and Tidworth Garison’s Lewis Phillips finished in a tie for third on two-over par.

Law added: “Last year I won in a play-off, so it was nice not to have to go out again with that extra bit of pressure on you.

“The course was good and the greens were in great condition. The players knew there was a good score out there, as that 65 showed, but it was a case of being consistent. Luckily, I was able to do that.”

It was a double success for Law on the day, as the Broome Manor Team of he, Cox and Tom Ruddle lifted the Wiltshire Team Shield and will now represent the county at the National Finals at Aldeburgh Golf Club in September.