WILTSHIRE booked a place in next month’s English Boys County finals after clinching the South West Championship on home turf at Bowood.

The team, coached by Simon Shanks and Andy Beal and managed by Paul Edwards, will represent the region in the national showpiece on August 26-28 at Sandiway GC in Northwich against teams from the North, Midlands and South East.

In tough conditions, James Wiltshire (Broome Manor) was the only youngster under par in the opening round with a 71 with his closest challenger being Cornwall’s England U16 captain Harry Hall (74).

Hall’s second-round 72 closed the gap, but Wiltshire held on to win the individual prize with a 74.

Each of the six counties also nominated six players, with the best five morning and afternoon scores for the team event.

At the midway point, only ten shots separated the field, but all Wiltshire’s players shot under 80 in the afternoon to take the crown by four shots from Dorset.

Wiltshire’s representation included county boys champion Jamie Amor (Marlborough) and Rhys Edwards (Cumberwell Park), as well as Tom Law (Broome Manor), Dom Patton (Manor House), Corey Sheppard (High Post), Jack Seaman (Wrag Barn) and Charlie Dunn (West Wilts), while Max Mulcock (Wrag Barn) finished fourth individually.