Miles Tunnicliff, whose mother died of cancer two weeks ago and whose last words to him were 'Go and win a tournament', won the Great North Open at Slaley Hall yesterday.

For a player who had never finished higher than sixth in a European tour event, had been to the qualifying school 12 times and at last November's school had come 137th out of 168, it was asking a lot.

But Tunnicliff gave the performance of his life and won by four shots.

Shaw Hill's Nick Dougherty missed the cut after rounds of 75 and 73 but Clitheroe golfer Paul Dwyer pocketed around £3,500 after finishing joint 41st with rounds of 71, 73, 76 and 75.