RICHARD Norton set a new course record to take the Northern Counties Seniors' Amateur Championship at Ulverston.

Norton, from the Beverley and East Riding club, compiled a bogey-free first round of 64 to lead the field by five strokes after the first round on the Bardsea course.

He could not quite reproduce that scoring in round two, but a one-under-par 70 ensure he ended the tournament – for golfers aged 55 and over with handicaps of 12 and below – with an overall eight-under-par score of 134 – five clear of Wike Ridge's Stephen East.

Trevor Foster, of Accrington – the Irish Seniors Amateur Open champion – was third, three further shots back on even par after two days played in sunshine on a course widely praised by the field of 117 who finished the competition.

East was one of the other players to post a round in the 60s, with his second round 68, which was matched by Peter Simpson, of Alnmouth, while Johnny Lawrence, of Moor Allerton, struck 69 strokes in the first round to sit second, before fading away with an 80 over his second 18 holes.

Windermere's Andrew Atkinson was the best-placed of the South Cumbrian players, finishing in eights with score of 76 and 71 for his efforts.

Home players Martin Barrand and Kevin Mahon followed on 150 and 151 respectively for their overall tallies, with club captain Neil Bremner, who was the first to tee off on day one, carding 169. Michael Brown totalled 156 and Bill Watkinson 170.

Furness member Neil Tippins recorded scores of 77 and 80, and Barrow's John Whetstone and Colin Mahon totalled 159 and 164 respectively.

RESULTS

1. Richard Norton (Beverley and East Riding), 64+70=134; 2. Stephen East (Wike Ridge), 71+68=139; 3. Trevor Foster (Accrington), 72+70=142; 4. Alan Wright (Hessle), 72+71=143; 5. Charles Webb (Huddersfield), 72+72=144.