WILPSHIRE professional Simon Townend rolled back the years to win the Lancashire County PGA Championship at Knott End.

The last time Townend prevailed in the flagship tournament was at Duxbury Park in 1994.

But the 48-year-old, out of the loop in national and regional events for 12 years, was not surprised by his four-under-par 65 as he won by a shot from Royal Lytham and St Annes assistant Tim Rich.

“I play mostly in the winter but I still work at my game and I feel I’m swinging better than at any other stage of my career,” he said. “One aspect that puts me off competing is the time it takes to get round.

“The pace of play these days is ridiculous.

“Five hours plus is far too long.”

In his prime, Townend won the Leeds Cup in 1991 at Sand Moor, where he was assistant, and the PGA North Region Champion-ship at Mottram five years later.

He never looked back after bogeying the first hole at Knott End, racking up five birdies which included a decisive one at the 17th.

Garstang’s John Twissell, among four players on 67, won the senior prize.