Last updated 11:50, Wednesday, 20 August 2008

CUMBRIA hopes of winning the Northern Counties qualifier were blown away on the storm-torn Isle of Man.

Lancashire took the title with their score of 922, with Cumbria nine shots behind in fourth place on 931.

Northumberland finished second (927), Durham third ((29) , the Isle of Man were fifth (932), Yorkshire sixth ((938) and Cheshire seventh (962).

Old warhorse John Longcake led the way for Cumbria, defying wind to shoot a two-over-par 74 in the morning, but the county was forced to settle for sixth place after the morning rounds.

Cumbria returned the best team score in the afternoon with 458.

Gary Wolstenholme led the way with his round of 73, with a chip coming up short on the last hole robbing him of level par.

It was enough to earn the former Walker Cup player, who represents Kendal’s Carus Green Golf Club, a prize for the best afternoon round.

He was followed in by Workington’s Simon Young on 75, Martin Hand improved by nine shots on his morning round to record a 76.

Fellow Carlisle player Nicky Bell found conditions tough and could only improve by one for an 80, while Workington player Will Bowe found the odd gorse bush and the seashore to spoil his contribution to make 80. Longcake, from Silloth, came home with another very steady 74 to narrowly miss out by one shot to take the individual best score, carded by Nick McCarthy of Yorkshire with 147.

Scores: Gary Wolstenholme (Carus Green) 78+73=151; Simon Young (Workington) 79+75=154; Martin Hand (Carlisle) 85+76=161; Nicky Bell (Carlisle) 80+81=161; Will Bowe (Workington) 76+80=156; John Longcake (Silloth) 74+74=148.