THE Southampton Open title was shared on Saturday, the staying power of home player John Baynes and South Winchester's Paul Nielson - along with poor weather - being the deciding factor.

Playing in steady rain for much of the first round, Southampton Municipal's Baynes was the pacesetter with an opening one-over 70.

Scratch player Nielson was four shots back but had drawn level after only six holes of the afternoon round - two-handicapper Baynes having dropped four strokes in a poor start to his second 18 of the day.

From here on it was a toe-to-toe battle.

Both players pushed their tee shots right on the long par four seventh but still used their short game skills to conjour up two pars.

Baynes birdied the eighth, capitalising on a long drive to hit a lofted iron to eight feet before holing the putt.

His powerful opponent hit back immediately, with a birdie at the next and, come 36 holes, they were tied on 144 after second rounds of 74 (Baynes) and 70 (Nielson).

As the rain once again came down and the light closed in, a four-hole medal play-off ensued.

Baynes put himself in control with a fine birdie on the 469-yard second hole but couldn't quite close out victory - three-putting the fourth hole to as the duo covered the four holes in 16 shots each.

Sudden death holes followed but by this time the greens were waterlogged and club secretary Edward Hemsley offered the players a draw, which they gratefully accepted.

Hemsley said of the day: "The scoring was amazing considering the weather.

"It was an exciting finish and very pleasing to see 15 or so of the other entrants come out in the rain and watch the play-off."