Shacklady towers above the rest in Blackpool

David Shacklady continued his late season burst of form with a stunning nine-under-par 62 in the first round of the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore.

It left the Mossock Hall hot-shot on course to win the event for fourth time and grab one handle on the PGA North Michael Slater Order of Merit award which he is defending.

Shacklady, who won the inaugural Carus Green Cumbria Open in Kendal at the weekend, produced another flawless display of stroke-making as he reeled off nine birdies including six in eight holes from the third followed by a hat-trick from the 14^th.

In this mood, he'll take some stopping in tomorrow's second and final round despite lying only two shots ahead of Houghwood's Barry Taylor, a double winner of the event, and Sheffield-based Alex Belt.

And with the Snainton Golf Centre man holding a 79-point lead in the Order of Merit, there's a lot at stake tomorrow.

But don't write off Ashton-on-Mersey's Kris Andrews who won last year - he's only three shots back after leading for most of the first round.