DORSET captain Giles Legg was the county’s leading performer in the South West Amateur Championship on Tuesday.

Legg staked a share of fifth place with rounds of 71 and 68 for a three-under-par total at Cumberwell Park in Wiltshire.

Unfortunately for the skipper, he hadn’t selected himself for the six-man Dorset team in the incorporated English County Qualifier. Legg had to name his six players prior to the 36-hole event in which Dorset came bottom of the pile.

The team’s best performer was Ferndown star Harry Mitchell who came joint 13th overall with two rounds of 71.

The 2011 Dorset boys champion is in a rich vein of form after winning the county strokeplay trophy at Parkstone earlier this month.

“To be fair the pressure was off me,” Legg told the Daily Echo. “But it is good to show the team that I can still play a bit.”

The international-studded hosts will represent the South West in the English County Finals after a runaway success on their home track.

Individual winner Ben Loughrey led the way with his rounds of 65 and 68 contributing to an impressive nine-under-par six-man total. Wiltshire’s nearest rivals were Devon and Somerset who finished a further 25 shots behind.

Last-placed Dorset were 18 shots adrift of their nearest rivals Gloucestershire.

And Dorset skip Legg will do well to return the wooden spoon in the South West inter-counties team championship.

Legg’s team have lost their first three matches, starting with a 10¼ to 3¾ defeat against Somerset on Sunday.

Weymouth’s Tom Robson was the only singles winner in their curtain-raiser, toppling Saltford’s Matt Lea 3&2.

The 18-year-old, on his South West debut, was also a winner in the afternoon foursomes, partnering Parkstone’s Tom Peacock to a 2&1 success.

Dorset managed to improve their points tally on Monday in an 8½ to 5½ defeat against Gloucestershire.

Bournemouth University’s Daniel Bishop (Christchurch) completed the county’s second double, winning both his singles and foursomes matches.

And Peacock added a singles success to his opening-day foursomes victory.

Robert Mabb (Weymouth) was Bishop’s partner in the foursomes, while Jon Welch (Weymouth) and Tom Leech (Ferndown) claimed the other afternoon point.

Reigning county champion Sonny Wilkinson contributed in the first two games with a half point in the foursomes on the opening day and a singles draw against Gloucestershire.

Mitchell, with nine birdies, and Welch were the only Dorset singles winners in the 10½ to 3½ defeat against Cornwall yesterday.

For all match scores and individual results visit www.swcga.co.uk Dorset’s South West squad: Sonny Wilkinson, Harry Mitchell, Giles Legg (captain), Tom Leech, Fraser Dawson (all Ferndown); Tom Robson, Robert Mabb, Jon Welch (Weymouth); Tom Peacock (Parkstone); Daniel Bishop (Christchurch).