Rod Davis started the new golf season the way he finished with victory in his first tournament.

He closed last year by winning a West Region order of merit for the first time in 60 attempts with a triumph in the Welsh Classic at Vale of Glamorgan.

Now the Canford Magna assistant took first place in the Europro pre-qualifying event at Coventry. He shot rounds of 72 and 71 for a three-under-par return of 143 at Coventry, winning £275.

But he was forced to pull out of the 72-hole final qualifier at Saunton.

He turned up but damaged his back in practice.

He said: "It is a nuisance as I don't have a ranking now, although I had only intended playing in two tournaments."