Devon golfers shine in SW Amateur Championships

The best male amateur golfers in the South West came to East Devon Golf Club in Budleigh Salterton for a mix of match play and stroke play competitions.

2024 marks the centenary of the South-Western Counties Golf Association and this year’s golf week kicked off with a celebratory buffet dinner attended by the President and CEO of England Golf, representatives from the SWGCA, East Devon Golf Club and the Counties.

A good evening was had by all, with England Golf presenting the SW with a memento of the achievement and the SWCGA presenting both England Golf and the Club with a Centenary Plaque.

The Inter-Counties Match Play Shield was fiercely contested over five days of mostly sunny but cold weather, on a course that was in excellent condition. The golfers enjoyed the challenge and there were three holes in one during the week.

Devon made the most of being on a home court and won all their matches to take the Match Play Shield from second-placed Wiltshire. This makes Devon the winners on both sides of the centenary celebrations, having won the first Inter-Counties week at the Royal North Devon Golf Club in 1924.

Tiverton Golf Clubs Jay Scott was the winner of the Clifford Burden Trophy for most match wins in the week.

The South-West Amateur Championships took center stage on Tuesday with two rounds of individual stroke play. Rob MacGregor from Cornwall took the honors in the morning with a fine 68 two under par, one shot ahead of Gloucestershire’s Nick Day.

Nick continued with a card of 68 for his second round, giving him a 3-under par total of 137 and the Amateur Championship. A very worthy champion and the only player to finish below average for the championship.

The England Golf County Qualifier was a real battle between last year’s winners, Gloucestershire and Cornwall. Cornwall led by eight shots after the first round, but the honors belonged to Gloucestershire, who turned it around in the afternoon to win by eight shots in total. Cornwall will go to the English County Finals at Whittington Heath Golf Club in September.

At the end of the week, Geoff Green, SWGCA President, congratulated the winners and thanked the club and its members for making this a wonderful week: “Thank you to everyone at East Devon Golf Club for making this a wonderful week. To the members for registering their great course for this week; the volunteers, marshals, referees and starters who took the time and effort to ensure the matches ran smoothly; Paul Newcombe and his wonderful team of greenkeepers for presenting a fantastic course; and to the bar and catering team at Restaurant 19 for their great work in keeping everyone fed and watered.”

East Devon Club Captain Bill Gott said: “We loved hosting this week and have been impressed by the spirit in which the matches were played: friendly and respectful, yet competitive. You have honored our bonds with your playing.”

Sam Dunn, winning Devon Captain, added: “Thank you to everyone involved in the Counties for helping their teams this week. To the members of East Devon for giving up their club for the week and special thanks to Paul Newcombe for his extensive knowledge and advice on playing the course.”