The plus-three handicapper claimed the Trafalgar Trophy at Nelson with rounds of 69 and 66 to finish three clear of Formby's Kristian Taylor, who carded rounds of 70 and 68.

That saw him finish one shot ahead of reigning Order of Merit champion, Mark Young of Longridge, who took third prize on the card from Nelson member Nick Uttley.

Nelson's Simon Hodgkinson and Paul Thomason both finished on level par to take fifth and sixth places respectively, while homester Danny Nutter carded 69 to record the best afternoon round.

The morning prize went to Chorley's Andrew Palmer (67), and Simon Currier (Fairfield) carded 138 to win the 36-hole nett prize.

Nutter was one of the three winners when Nelson booked their place in the next round of the Mail on Sunday Classic.

Against West Lancashire, he won 4 and 3, as did Tony Flanagan, while Craig Fort won 3 and 2.

There were narrow defeats for Uttley and Steve Duerden, and Nelson now travel to Blackwell Grange in Darlington in search of a place in the national finals.