DEFENDING champion Mark Young finally got his season under way when he won the Penwortham Rose Bowl last Sunday.

The Hurst Green-based plus three player has won the Cleveland Srixon Northern Order of Merit three times in the last four years.

He dug deep for rounds of 71 and 68, one-over-par all told, for a one shot victory over Chorley’s Nick Jackson.

On Saturday, Young won his foursomes and singles to help Lancashire beat Northumberland at Ormskirk to take pole position in the Northern Counties League.

Pleasington’s Michael Hunt and Steven McGlynn of Blackburn also helped Lancashire to their 10-8 victory.

He today begins his St Andrews Links Trophy campaign in Scotland.