DAVID Shacklady knew he could not win the De Vere Hotels PGA North Region Championship at Slaley Hall yesterday after trailing seven shots off the overnight lead.

But the Leisure Lakes attached professional, who teaches at Yarrow Valley, a par three course in Chorley, still came away from the North East a happy man after powering to the top of the region's order of merit. Shacklady closed with a 71 for a four-way share of 11th place --and still seven off the pace taken up by for Scottish amateur Craig Hislop playing in his first regional event.

Wilpshire's Simon Townend, with a final round 70, was leader in the clubhouse for a time at five-under-par but had to settle seventh place with Blackburn Driving Range's Jeff Mathews, who closed with 73.