A receptive St Annes Old Links played host to a memorable Apeiron Northern Order of Merit competition yesterday with in-form Danny Belch storming to a birdie-laden victory.
FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
The Bolton ace secured his fourth victory in the competition this year by two shots from overall leader Andrew Haswell, sparkling rounds of 67 (-5) and 66 (-6) moving him into second behind the Ormskirk player in the season-long standings.
At the Lytham venue, Belch trailed Haswell by two at halfway but a sensational start in the afternoon – he was five under for his opening seven holes – laid the platform for his Ashton Trophy win and it follows on from his successes at Rossendale, Pleasington and Nelson.
“Yesterday was one of my best performances for a very long time,” said the former pro.
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“It was just what I have been waiting for. I found something at Rossendale last weekend and I had a feeling it might be good. I have a good history at St Annes.
“Normally with golf it’s a bit of a battle but it just felt easy and comfortable and in the afternoon, I have to say, that was the best I have ever putted. Mind you they were the best greens I have ever putted on.
“After what Andy did in the morning I thought 12 or 13 under would win it and the conditions were such that double-digits-under-par was do-able.”
Belch had just 25 putts in his 66 and amassed eight birdies. After 10 holes he was six under before back-to-back bogeys on 13 and 14 halted his charge.
However he rolled in a 15-footer at the next to get back on the birdie train and would also birdie the par five last, chipping to three feet before knocking it in.
Earlier in the round Belch birdied one, two, four, five and seven, where he drained one from 40 feet. At the next two he left birdie opportunites “in the jaws” before finally getting one to drop from relatively short range at the tenth.
In the morning he started at the tenth and got to six under after 15 holes before his first bogey of the day at the seventh.
Meanwhile Haswell put together an extraordinary burst of scoring in the first round as part of his bogey-free 65. He also started on the 10th and opened with seven threes, turning in 30 (-6) before grabbing one more birdie at the sixth.