TEAM NEWS: Cotswold Hills assistant Ed Goodwin had a wretched Cornwall Festival, but ended up leading home the winning team.

He was given great assistance from his three amateurs. Gloucestershire second team player Elliott Nichols (off two) made six birdies around Trevose.

Independent financial adviser Neil Gayler (off 10) and Nigel Newport-Black (off 7), the managing director of Turier Scales, played key roles as well.

Goodwin said: "I had a very good team and all contributed at key moments.

"Nigel played well each day and had at least 11 net birdies and one or two gross birdies as well and Neil also made vital contributions."

Goodwin won £325 but opted out of the individual tournament when he lost two balls on the 10th hole in the final round at St Enodoc. He returned 74 at Newquay and 79 at Trevose.

He said: "It was just one of those days for me. I had a couple of bad holes, a few birdies, but didn't score well at all.

"But I can see a light at the end if the tunnel and I feel I can do well again on the region and on the Europro Tour."

Nichols, aged 19, has made his own agenda this year and is aiming to break into the county first team.

He said: "I am going to push hard this year. I work part-time at Cotswold Hills and spend the rest of the time practising."

Nichols started playing at Gloucester and was playing off three by the time he was 15. But his career suffered a setback three years ago when he broke his left wrist by slipping on a manhole cover.

As soon as he recovered, he re-broke his wrist, but happily has made a full recovery.

The Cotswold Hills team only won the 87-team Festival on countback from a Cornwall quartet led by Tony Nash (Lostwithiel)

The places were decided by the scores from Trevose, minus 12 against minus 11.

Nash, who invariably fares well in the West Region Cornish Festival, came so close to hitting the jackpot yet again.

He was only one shot behind Watson (Weymouth) at the start of the final day. He returned two-under-par 67 at windy Newquay and a par 71 at Trevose, but let himself down with a disappointing four-over 73 at St Enodoc.

This left him in joint fifth place on 211. But he led his team into joint top place out of 87 teams with a three-round total of 391 (27 under par).

He was helped by Danny Downing (Truro off 9) and St Austell pair Glen Powell (off 13) and Charlie Clarricoats (off 8).

Nash said: "I had the experience of playing a lot on the courses and that helped me achieve the position I did.

"I played nicely at Newquay and badly at Trevose where I dropped four shots by three-putting. I didn't make one birdie.

"I hadn't played for a month because of teaching commitments and it showed at times."

All the players were full of praise for the quality and condition of the three courses and the superb catering.

Team scores

391 (-27) Ed Goodwin (Cotswold Hills, £325), Elliott Nichols, Neil Gayler, Nigel Newport-Black.

391 Tony Nash (Lostwithiel, £325), Danny Downing (Truro), Glen Powell, Charlie Clarricoats (both St Austell).

392 Martyn Thompson (Parkstone, £250), Mike Gibson, Mike Ford, Peter Ford.

393 Mark Wiggett (Dudsbury, £190), Ronnie Luke, Rod Sait (both Dudsbury), Gary Britton (Queens Park)

393 Christian Fogden (Bognor Regis, £190)

394 Richard Adams (South Winchester, £160)

395 Stuart Martin (Burnham/Berrow, £140).