MATTHEW Hough kept his powder dry when he called the shots in the Henriques Trophy at Hesketh to win his first big title.

The 20-year-old two handicapper from Manchester Golf Club passed on the credit to his dad Keith, who carried his bag in a competition reduced to one round because of the weather.

"I could not have done it without him. He protected my gear from the rain," said Hough who completed his round with two birdies in a three-under-par 69.

They were inconsequential in the final reckoning because he finished three shots ahead of Woolton's Tom Graves with Chorley duo Alan Cunliffe and Andrew Palmer in a five-way tie for third after carding 73s.

Hough, who works in the pro shop at Hopwood, has put his ambition to join the paid ranks on hold to gain more experience on the amateur circuit.

After moving into a top 10 spot in the Mitsushiba Northern Order of Merit, he said: "I'm playing in as many tournaments as possible and will see how far I progress in the next couple of years before making my mind up."

STEVE Parry was in the groove at Hazel Grove where he clocked up his fifth win of the season with a brilliant eight-under-par 63 on the Exel Tour.

The 27-year-old Bolton-born player, an assistant at Astley Driving Range, did not have a blemish on his card as he rattled in eight birdies to finish five shots ahead of Mottram's Tim Maxwell and Mike Nesbit, from Matfen Hall.

Form

And on a four-way share of fourth place on 69 was rookie pro Sean Doherty, from Bury.

"I just hope I can keep this run going," said Parry who a few days earlier topped the pile in a Tamsel Tour fixture at Withington.

Meanwhile, a two-day Tamsel event at Helsby was abandoned yesterday because of waterlogging.

GREAT Dane Thomas Bjorn birdied the final two holes of the rain-delayed Nissan Irish Open at Carton House to capture his ninth title with a five-under-par total of 283.

The 35-year-old Ryder Cup player finished a stroke ahead of England's Paul Casey but Shaw Hill's Nick Dougherty was well down the field on three-over-par.

JON Davies, from Chorlton, fired the best gross score of 73 to win the Manchester Junior League at Stand.

Sean Heathcote, a 16 handicapper from Bury returned best nett of 68, a score matched by Flixton's David Dobson and the host club's Mike Smith in the first and second flights respectively.

THE Mersey Women's Shield returned to Sale after a five-year absence after more than 200 players braved dire weather conditions at Didsbury.

Sale clocked up 223 points from their top six pairs with Hilary Tarleton, Gillian Hayes, Cath Rawthore and Julie Matthews helping them to finish 13 clear of Withington.