Smart Alex plays a real belter

Alex Belt rolled back the years when he took a one shot lead into the final round of the De Vere PGA North Region Championship at Herons' Reach.

The EuroPro Tour player, who captured the title in 2008, was one of only a handful of professionals to master the tricky course on which the wind made conditions even more difficult.

Belt, attached to Snainton Golf Centre in Yorkshire, attributed his four-under-par 68 to playing the percentage game.

"It paid off in a tournament at Wychwood Park last week and it worked well for me today," he said.

A bogey at the 16th was the only blemish on his card which showed five birdies, including one on the final hole.

He has already set his target for the season as far as regional events are concerned.

"I want to finish in the Order of Merit top three which would qualify for the PGA play-offs and that could give my career a further boost," he reasoned.

Belt has benefited from playing the Evolve Tour in Spain over the winter and was buoyed by his victory over former European Tour regular Bradley Dredge in the final.

"That was a real boost," he said after heading a five-strong group of players sharing second place.

Among them is PGA Cup player Simon Edwards, from Windermere, and Penrith's Tim Dykes, who has played little since parting company with the Challenge Tour three years ago.

"It's time I got back into the swing of things - I've had to jump through hoops to get a game."