ADRIAN AMBLER (Walton Golf Centre, Wakefield) made a flying start in his defence of the Yorkshire PGA Order of Merit title.

However, he had to share top spot in the Bridlington Links Challenge with James Drinkall, from Allerthorpe Park, and Ganton’s Gary Brown.

The trio all shot three under par 69, one ahead of a group of seven players, to collect 166.6 points in the first of the six counting events for the Order of Merit.

Merit points winners: 69 - J Drinkall, A Ambler (Walton GC), G Brown (Ganton). 70 - F Kelley (Malton & Norton), R Wragg (Southgrove GA), A Rishworth (Wike Ridge), J Wells (Cherry Burton), M Marsh (Hallowes), A Green (Doncaster GR), J Kelly (Northcliffe). 71 - C Hughes (Bradford), A Hodkin (Hallowes), R Pace (Spaldington), N Ludwell (Selby). 72 - M Maith (Selby), J Oates (Hallowes), S Appleton (Spaldington), D Mansell (Wakefield), P Carrigill (Carrigill Golf).

Others included: 73 - R Kershaw (Mirfield DR). 75 - L Morrisroe (Willow Valley). 84 - D Arber (West End).

Mizuno-Yorkshire PGA Trainees, Scarcroft. Leading scores: 69 - D Mansell (Wakefield). 70 - J Feather (Wike Ridge), M Civil (Hallamshire). 72 - A Hodkin (Hallowes). 74 - C Watt (Howley Hall). 75 - T Hesketh (Oakdale). 76 - A Lerigo (Sitwell Park).

Chris Hanson, challenging Grant Hammerton (Pike Fold) for top spot in The Players Tour Order of Merit, has chance to overtake his Lancashire rival when the Tour swings into Fixby on Thursday.

Hammerton, a double winner this season, is on 746 points with £3,630 while Woodsome Hall’s Hanson, winner of the recent event at Wilmslow plus a second place behind Hammerton at St Annes Old Links, is on 666 points with prizemoney of £3,147. Entries at Fixby – the fifth tournament on the schedule – currently stand at 53.

Fixby’s Andy Shaw put together two solid rounds in the Hawksworth Trophy at Bradford but finished five shots away from winner Jamie Miller, a county player from Fulford.

Miller came from three strokes back at the halfway mark with a second round 66 to win the Eagle Golf-Yorkshire Amateur Order of Merit event on 136, a couple of shots better than fellow county players Simon Coumbe and Martin Brown.

Leading scores: 136 - J Miller (Fulford) 70 66. 138 - S Coumbe (Pontefract) 69 69; M Brown (Pike Hills) 67 71.139 - R Law (Low Laithes) 71 68. 140 - R Jones (Wath) 70 70; J Firth (Baildon) 68 72. 141 - A Shaw (Huddersfield) 70 71; D Berry (West Bradford) 69 72; J Moss (Kirkbymoorside) 69 72. 142 - J Buckley (Harrogate) 72 70, J Bower (Meltham) 72 70.

Others included: 145 - C Ingham (West End) 76 69. 148 - T Goodair (Woodsome Hall) 73 75. 150 - R Broadley (Huddersfield) 73 77. 154 - A Schnacke (Huddersfield) 79 75. 156 - A Crum (Dewsbury) 77 79. 159 - D Stafford (West End) 82 77

Walker Cup player Chris Paisley, from Stocksfield, claimed the third Order of Merit event, the Cleveland Salver

Paisley’s opening five under par 67 led the field by three shots and his steady level par second round was enough to secure victory by one shot from Moor Allerton’s Joseph Walker, who shot two consistent rounds of 70.

Leading scores: 139 - C Paisley (Stocksfield) 67 72. 140 - J Walker (Moor Allerton) 70 70. 141 - C Halley (Malton & Norton) 72 69, R Law (Low Laithes) 70 71.