A short game lesson from his playing partner reaped dividends for Ashton-on-Mersey assistant Rory Walsh who reeled off two eagles and three birdies in the space of seven holes at the £30,000 Skins PGA Fourball Championship at Forest Pines.

He teamed up with James Salt, from Altrincham Golf School, to scorch the front nine in 29 strokes – seven-under-par.

Two further birdies on the back nine helped give the pair a nine-under-par 64 and a share of the lead alongside Matt Maguire, from Stoneleigh Deer Park, and Halfpenny Green's Darren Prosser.

Walsh’s scoring streak from the third to the ninth hole included an eagle at the latter when he holed his approach to the 408-yard par four.

“James has been looking after my short game for two months and it’s definitely worked because I couldn’t putt or chip for toffee,” said Walsh.

The pair only managed two further birdies on the inward nine but Walsh wasn’t complaining.

“I think the back nine is tougher,” he added. “It’s a really tough stretch down 11,12,13 and 14 so we needed a few up and downs to keep it going.

“I was thinking birdie the three par fives on the back nine and I’ll be quite happy and we did two out of the three. It makes up for last year when we failed to qualify having missed out in a play-off.”

Salt, who is looking to concentrate more on coaching, retained the PGA North Region Assistants’ Order of Merit this year and also won the Assistants’ flagship event, the Harold Lees Trophy.

“Tournament wise it’s not been good enough for me this season but would like to finish season well with my mate,” said Salt. Tweet