NEV Jameson is the Bolton Golf Association champion after blowing away young pretender Dave Monks 5 and 4 at Harwood.

The 34-year-old became the first Regent Park golfer to lift the title, sponsored by Newtown Park Developments Ltd, since John Dabecki 20 year ago.

It was a feat the solidly built Jameson had dreamed of ever since he joined Regent Park.

He said: "It is something I always wanted to win and now I have got it.

"I joined Regent Park when I was 23. I saw Sean Kelly win the title a couple of times and I thought 'I can do that' and now I have.

"It is great for Regent Park because they don't get much joy. They are always the poor relation.

"I think the score flattered me more than how the game went. It was certainly very tight early on.

"The greens are very difficult to judge and they went my way more with luck than judgement.

"I had a nervous start but was steady after the first four holes. I have a lot more experience than Dave has and been in the top 10 a few times in the Lancashire Championship. I think that helped."

Jameson was fortunate to get into the qualifying round, after he was one of five players to play-off for the final two places and had to return a 67 to ensure a quarter-final berth. After a shaky start with the lead fluctuating between the players, Jameson went two up at the eighth, but went through the green at the ninth and was only one up at the turn.

A combination of his solid performance and Monks' misfortune on the difficult greens point proved decisive.

Monks, from Deane, missed a four foot putt on the 10th to go back to two under and went three behind at the 11th when he went out of bounds.

Jameson landed a brilliantly judged curling 10 foot putt on the 12th to go four up and the writing was on the wall.

Monks needed to win the 15th to stay in contention and although he produced a great recovery shot, his putt sidled past the hole, while Jameson landed an eight footer for victory.

The 22-year-old student admitted the greens had foxed him, but was delighted with his achievement of reaching the final.

He said:"I have altered my swing this winter and to come this far so soon is a huge leap.

But if the putts don't drop they don't drop. The greens are inconsistent and anyone who can put well on those greens is a good golfer.

I had not seen Jameson play so I did not know what to expect. I was nice and relaxed but the ball did not run for me."