DAVID Shacklady held off a late challenge by Paul Eales to retain the James Brearley Lancashire Open at Blackpool North Shore with a closing round of 67, to add to his opening 66, for a nine under par total.

The Mossock Hall-attached professional prevailed by a shot after Eales repeated his first round 67 thanks to an eagle at the 15th and birdie on the final hole.

Lancashire County player Michael Kanski, from Hesketh, was leading amateur at seven under, sharing third place with first round leader Barry Taylor, an assistant professional at Houghwood.

Shacklady, 37, a shot off the overnight pace, admitted that he had only one worry as he approached the end of his round - in the shape of Eales.

Less than a month ago the Royal Lytham and St Anne's European Tour player had beaten his friend, Wrexham's Simon Edwards, in a play-off for the De Vere Hotels PGA North Region Championship at nearby Heron's Reach.

"I saw him hole out from a bunker for an eagle at the 18th and I was always aware that he was capable of pulling off something like that again," said Shacklady.

"This time he made his charge a little earlier with that eagle at 15th to reduce the margin to two.

"Even then I half expected him to hole his second shot to the final hole, which was a bit of a tall order, although he was still close enough to birdie it!"