NICK Uttley chalked up his first victory of the season in the Mitsushiba northern merit in style when he won the Bolton Old Links Trophy by four shots.

The Nelson player, who won the Revidge Cannon and Wilpshire Trophy last year, made a flying start with birdies on the first two holes in an opening round of five-under-par 68.

He added five more on the inward stretch to head the big field by one from merit leader Gary Lacy.

But as the Ashton-in-Makerfield player faltered in the afternoon with a 73, Uttley kept his momentum by following up with a 70 containing two birdies in each half.

Lacy settled for third place, on an inferior second round to Dunscar's Gareth Hastie who handed in a brace of 71s, but increased his merit tally.

Local players' standings: Nick Uttley (Nelson) 68, 70, 138; Andy White (Pleasington) 71, 72 143; Bill Bromilow (Chorley) 74, 73, 147.

Ken Hudson won his second Mitsushiba northern merit event of the season, but he took the Derek Ingham Memorial Trophy at Rossendale by the tightest of margins with rounds of 71 and 70, three-under-par in total which was matched by the host club's Andy Westwell.

Other local results: A Westwell (Rossendale 71, 70, 141; M Brooks (Blackburn) 70, 74, 144; J Reed (Blackburn) 71, 75, 146; A White (Pleasington) 74, 73, 147; G Phillipson (Darwen) 74, 73, 147.

Northern Order of Merit local placings: J Cockcroft (Nelson) 380, N Uttley (Nelson) 380, G Phillipson (Darwen) 220, D Nutter (Nelson) 150, S Ainscough (Chorley) 120, A White (Pleasington) 115.