HAYLING'S Mark Thistleton won the Hampshire Golf Union's 36-hole Courage Invitation Trophy for the first time with a runaway victory at Rowlands Castle.

The first round of the HGU's first major event of the new season was dominated by James Knight (Sandford Springs), who opened up a four-stroke lead over the rest of the field after posting a superb three-under-par 69 decorated by an eagle at the long 12th and three birdies.

But the second round for the former tour professional was a disaster when he slipped down the leaderboard after struggling to a 12-over-par 84.

Thistleton, who was in second place at the end of the opening round, had an adventurous start to his final round with two birdies and two bogies over his four opening holes.

He returned to under-par with a birdie at the long seventh, then rifled a further two birdies over the first three holes of his back nine before registering six straight pars to equal the lowest score of the day posted by Knight in the first round (69). His tournament aggregate two-under-par 142 left him six shots clear of Kevin Weeks.

Leading scores (36-hole par 144): 142 M Thistleton (Hayling) 73/69, 148 K Weeks (Brokenhurst Manor) 77/71, 149 S Butts (Hartley Wintney) 78/71, 151 S Hutsby (Lee-on-the-Solent) 74/77, 152 J Watt (Brokenhurst Manor) 75/77, 153 J Knight (Sandford Springs) 69/84.

Hampshire will be without three of their leading players for the Champions of Sport ten-a-side singles match against the Hampshire PGA at Blackmoor on Sunday (May 4).

David Porter (Stoneham) and Martin Young (Brokenhurst Manor) are playing in the Lytham Trophy while Mark Thistleton (Hayling), the new Courage Invitation Trophy champion, is unavailable.

Hampshire: K Weeks (Brockenhurst Manor, captain), R Henley, A Bow, R Elmes (Stoneham), J Knight (Sandford Springs), J Young, J Watt (Brokenhurst Manor), C Page (Hayling), S Butwell (Lee-on-the-Solent), T Markwick (South Winchester).