A BRILLIANT fight-back failed to keep alive Tony Jackson's bid to lift the Mid Amatuer Championship at Walton Heath at the weekend.

The Blackburn member, who made the semi finals of the same competition last summer, fell at the quarter final stages this time around after losing by a hole to West Kent's Danny Yates.

But the Lancashire number one went down fighting, reeling off five birdies in six holes over the back nine, to give Yates a huge fright.

"I'm disappointed because I made the semi finals last year and I was hoping to go one better this time around," said Jackson.

"But the way I hit the ball was awful and it wasn't until the closing holes that I got my act together."

Jackson looked on course for at least a repeat of last season's place in the last four after comfortably negotiating the opening three rounds.

But he suddenly found himself three down after 10 in his clash with Yates.

And despite an incredible run of five birdies in six holes between the 11th and the 17th, he couldn't take the match to the 18th.

Now Jackson is aiming to bounce back in time for Lancashire's decisive Roses clash with Yorkshire at Royal Birkdale at the end of the month which will decide the destiny of the Northern Counties League title. And he's charged county coach Eddie Birchenough, who is based at Royal Lytham, with the task of getting his game back in shape.

"I was playing some excellent stuff up until June but my form has dipped since, then so I went to see Eddie this week and things are starting to come together again.

"Just five minutes with him usually sorts me out so hopefully I'll be back in form in time for the Yorkshire match.

"That's a massive game but I'm really looking forward to it because I think Royal Birkdale's the best course in Lancashire.

"But we need to make sure we beat them quite convincingly in the morning foursomes because to win the singles is going to be difficult."

The Red Rose county will have to go into the match without England Boys starlet Nick Dougherty, though.

The 17-year-old Shaw Hill ace is away on international duty, captaining Great Britain and Ireland in a match at Burnham and Barrow.

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