LIAM Ball won the Bolton Golf Championship on Thursday night.

The Turton Golf Club player clinched his second title with a 3&1 victory over Gareth Hastie at Chorley Golf Club.

Hastie, of Bolton Golf Club, was going for his fifth title - his third in succession - which would have seen him join Howard Broadbent in second place on the all-time list of winners of a tournament which began in 1931.

It was never a classic with Hastie not at his best and Ball just doing enough to keep his nose in front.

Hastie's putting let him down at crucial moments and Ball's quality at bunkers played a big part in his win, chipping out and sinking his next shot four times.

Hastie won the first hole, but that was the only time he was in front.

Ball won the second and the fifth to go ahead. Hastie levelled by winning the eighth but Ball hit straight back with the shot of the match to win the ninth and retake the lead that he never relinquished - a sensational 40-foot putt.

He went two up on the 15th with a 12-foot putt and hit another fine bunker shot on the 17th which resulted in Hastie conceding the hole and Ball winning the match.