Norfolk's number one Chase Davis continued to dominate the local amateur scene with a win in the first Order of Merit event of the season. The Costessey Park player returned a level par 72 at Weston Park to finish one shot clear of the field.

Norfolk's number one Chase Davis continued to dominate the local amateur scene with a win in the first Order of Merit event of the season.

The Costessey Park player returned a level par 72 at Weston Park to finish one shot clear of the field.

The result continues a fine run for Davis in county events. He won the 2006 Order of Merit, which is sponsored by the Alan Boswell insurance group, and followed up with victory in the Norfolk matchplay championship. This title is contested by the leading 16 players in the table.

“I'm starting off as I mean to go on,” said Davis, who is already looking forward to the next Order of Merit event at Bawburgh on Sunday. “I like that course,” he remarked, rather ominously for the opposition.

At Weston Park he started slowly, dropping three shots on the outward holes, but came home in a blistering three-under 33.

He was helped by a practice session at Costessey before his round in which he checked the distances he was hitting his short clubs, from his nine iron down.

His preparation paid off when he considered his second shot to the par four 15th. As Davis worked out the yardages he knew exactly which club to take. “I had 95 yards to go and I know I hit my gap wedge 99. I hit it in to 2ft and holed the putt.”

He also had birdies on the long 13th, where he was pin high in two; and on the par five 18th, where he was on in two.

“I was a little surprised to win because I thought level par might not be quite good enough,” said Davis. “There were a lot of good players in the field.”