GRAHAM Cox decided the best way to get back into the groove after a series of disappointing results was to change his job.

And less than a month after joining Tony Stevens as his assistant at Davenport, the move has paid off - twice!

Cox top scored for the second successive Manchester Alliance fixture when he rattled up 36 points to claim the individual prize at Shrigley Hall.

A week earlier he and ex-Warrington clubmate Lewis Nunn finished top in a Bramall Park Greensome Stableford.

Cox said: "I was playing in Tony's golf day and he asked me if I'd fancy filling a vacancy he had. The switch had obviously done me good.

"I hope my new-found form will carry on next season when I'll have another crack at Tour School. This was my worst run since I turned pro seven years ago but I'm working hard."

The former PGA North Region assistant champion qualified for the South African Open - his first European Tour event - earlier in the campaign but missed the cut.

"Tony played the Tour for a long time so maybe some of his magic will rub off on me," he added.

The pair are in a 56-strong field for the opening Mansell Finishes Winter Pro-am series at Hillside on Monday.

Meanwhile, back at Shrigley, Blackley quartet Julian Robinson, Alan Lane, Duncan Teal and Andrew O'Neill won the team event with 89 points and by five from Bury brothers Sean and Ciaran Doherty, Phil McDonald and Gary Kelly.

STEVE Carter looked to have blown his chances at wind-lashed Fairhaven in a PGA North Region Winter Pro-am when he ran up a triple bogey seven at the 381-yard fourth.

But the South Staffs professional hit back to take first prize with a two-under-par 70. A shot behind were newly installed Windermere pro Simon Edwards and Bolton's Steve Parry.

BOLTON League champions Old Links can complete a double tomorrow when they meet Harwood in the Jack Taylor Trophy final at Dunscar.

They eased though the semis 3-2 against Horwich as their opponents beat Turton by the same margin. Tweet