Parry applies the finishing touch!

Steve Parry staged a grandstand finish to win the James Brearley Lancashire Open for the second time in three years at blustery Blackpool North Shore.

The Hart Common professional, who trailed a shot behind overnight leader Davenport’s Scott Howarth who had posted a five-under-par 66, looked to be slipping back into the pack after a double bogey at the ninth.

But he immediately retrieved the situation with an eagle at the next hole which proved just the incentive he needed.

“That lifted me to minus four but I didn’t have a clue about what was going on elsewhere on the course,” he admitted.

“I then birdied the 10th and dropped a stroke at the next but picked up shots on three of the next four holes, despite the strong wind, then parred the last two to finish six-under-par.”

Parry, who turned 40 last week, also picked up three Order of Merit awards in as many years.

But he revealed: “I have not had great season on the EuroPro Tour but I’ll keep trying. A lot of good players are my age and over and there’s no way I’m going to slow down.”

Liverpool Driving Range professional Tim Ford repeated his opening round of 69 to finish in a share of second place with Swinton Park’s David Smith.

FINAL ROUND: 136 Steve Parry (Hart Common) 67 69; 138 Tim Ford (Liverpool Driving Range) 69 69, David Smith (Swinton Park) 68 70; 139 Timothy Dykes (Penrith) 73 66, David Shacklady (Mossock Hall) 70 69; 140 Robert Booth (Outlane) 70 70; 141 Daniel Croft (Allerton Manor) 72 69, Phil Kelly (PK Golf) 71 70, Ryan O’Neill (Penwortham) 71 70, Craig Corrigan (Chilli Dip) 70 71, Jamie Howarth (Davenport) 69 72.