Joe's a Record Breaker!

This year’s SWCGA Championship took place at Minchinhampton on the 7th June. As the qualifier for the English County Finals, it is the centrepiece of South West Week and is the competition that everyone wants to win.

The format is simple – six players per team, 36 holes of golf in the day, add up all the gross scores and the lowest total is the winner! However, there are also the overall title and the youth’s (under 21) title to be played for.

The first round saw Wiltshire’s Joe Retford (Cumberwell Park) break the course record by 4 shots with an incredible 61 to lead by 3. His afternoon 68 seemed tame in comparison but saw him qualify for a playoff with Gloucestershire’s Nick Day and Devon’s Craig Passmore. Unfortunately Day birdied the first extra hole and ran out the winner, but Joe’s course record will remain for a long time.

In the team event Wiltshire came a very close 4th, with Gloucestershire triumphant by 20 clear shots.

In the matchplay event, the Tractor Boys have put in some stirling performances. Sunday saw a narrow defeat to Gloucestershire which could have gone either way, but the team made up for the disappointment by beating Dorset 8-6. Another defeat against a very strong and in form Devon side folowed on Wednesday, but Thursday saw what will become known in the future as 'The Miracle at Minchinhampton'!

Trailing at lunch 5.5 - 2.5 Wiltshire had to win 3 of the four foursomes matches to force a tie, but, astonishingly they won 3 and halved one to run out 7.25 - 6.25 winners!

Friday will see the boys take on table-topping Somerset with Gloucestershire and Devon holding their breath!

Joe Retford Smiles (almost) after his record                                        Wiltshire Men 2022 - Ayden Knight, Josh Loughrey, Tom Scullion, Johnny Grace, Max Drayton,

                                                                                                              Tom Law,Joe Retford, Nick Korynevsky, Garry Slade, Ali James (Captain), Ben Loughrey, Matt Swales

Return to News Page

Created by intelligentgolf version 10.1.2.