A SIZZLING final round 67 catapulted Clitheroe's Stuart Andrew into contention in the Lancashire Amateur Championship at Bolton Old Links.

But even he could not match the scintillating 66 of Gary Boardman which gave the Castle Hawk player a four-round total of 283 and a two-stroke victory over Andrew.

Three shots back was Accrington head greenkeeper Trevor Foster who closed with a 68 but suffered through his third round 75.

Blackburn's Tony Jackson finished tied for fourth on 287, one shot better than Andrew's good friend, Paul Dwyer, also from Clitheroe. Like Dwyer, who opened with a 76, Andrew paid heavily for a poor start to the tournament, shooting 77 in Friday's first round. But he improved with each subsequent round, firing 72 on Saturday and then 69 yesterday morning before his afternoon score of 67.

"There's a lot of pressure on the County players to do well in this event and I think that contributed to the bad start," said Andrew.

A particularly strong finish by Andrew did have Boardman holding his breath.

A birdie two on the par-three 14th started an incredible run which included an eagle three on the 15th and birdies on the par-four 16th and 17th.

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