Royal Cromer's Lee Patterson went back to the future for success in the latest Norfolk PGA order of merit event at Great Yarmouth and Caister Golf Club.

The 40-year-old dug out an old two iron he had tucked away to help him tame the conditions on the coast and it was a decision that reaped rich rewards to finish second, just one shot behind Ufford Park's Andy Cotton who took the honours back across the border thanks to a two under par 68.

'The morning of the competition I had a bit of an inspirational thought. I looked in my bag of old clubs and pulled out a two iron that I hadn't hit in probably eight or 10 years,' said Patterson. 'I thought Yarmouth and Caister was going to be breezy so a two iron would be perfect. I dropped my hybrid and introduced a two iron and I have to say every time I hit that club I felt like I hit a great shot. I just kept it low and had a bit more control. I put the club to good use and on all my danger holes,' he added.

Patterson is currently fourth in the order of merit standings but is targeting top spot, having come close before on a couple of occasions. Also on his list of priorities is the Millennium Trophy at Hintlesham Hall, near Ipswich, in May – when the Norfolk pros take on their Suffolk counterparts – and also the Norfolk Open at Brancaster in September.

'I've been third in the order of merit and second a couple of times and I'd like to go one better. I was very pleased with my performance at Yarmouth. I think I played as solid as I could,' said Patterson. 'I missed the first event at Hunstanton and then had a tied fourth and effectively a first. We've got a good couple of events coming up. The Millennium Trophy against Suffolk and one I'm really looking forward to is the Norfolk Open at Brancaster, which is round a course I feel well suited to.'

For the second competition running Costessey Park's Ian Ellis led in the winning team and again he was partnered by former Canary striker Dean Ashton and on this occasion was supported by Brad and Mitch Smith. Their score of 121 was 19 under par and four shots ahead of Andy Cotton's team.