MARK Young won the Lancashire County Championship for the third time in five years after a close finish at Grange Park.

And it was a double celebration for the plus four ranked player from Longridge who set a course record eight-under-par 64 on the second day which included an eagle and seven birdies.

But it did not count in the final reckoning because torrential rain caused the round to be abandoned with many players still to finish.

Young, however, was determined to take the main prize although he had to fight off some strong competition during the last 36 holes.

He eventually prevailed by two shots from Southport and Ainsdale's Sean Blinkhorn whose challenge ended when he drove into trees on the last hole.

Pleasington's Jonathan Hurst was third, a shot back.

Young posted 68 sandwiched between a brace of 72s for a four-under-par total but it looked as though a play-off was on the cards when Blinkhorn and Hurst caught him up with four holes to play.

But out of the trio, only Young managed to birdie the 492-yard 15th which gave him the edge again.

"After the second round was called off I had to put everything behind me and make sure of a strong finish," he said.

"I hadn't been playing well coming into the tournament but something clicked into place on the first day and after that I had the bit between my teeth."

LEADING SCORES: 212 Mark Young (Longridge) 72 68 72; 214 Sean Blinkhorn (S&A) 68 74 72; 215 Jonathan Hurst (Pleasington) 71 71 73; 216 Jack Clarkson (Lancaster) 73 74 69; 217 Sean Towndrow (S&A) 73 73 71, John Carroll (Huyton & Prescot) 71 71 75; 218 Roger Smithies (Manchester) 72 72 74,