DEFENDING champion Anthony Stirling produced a stirring comeback to retain the Harry Vardon Trophy.

The Harwood golfer came from two down with three to play against Bury's Ciaran Doherty, winning the last three holes to claim victory in the Bury and District Golf Association's men's championship.

It was a thrilling finale to five days of high-quality golf at Breightmet Golf Club, with the final played last Thursday after the previous day's initial date was washed out.

The event got underway on Sunday when 48 players competed over a 36-hole stroke play competition to earn a place in the last eight.

Matt Collinge (Greenmount), Nigel Hunter (Breightmet), Doherty and Stirling eventually emerged victorious from the Monday's quarter-finals

Doherty put in a blistering performance to earn a one-sided victory in the semi-finals, beating home favourite Hunter 9&8 after finishing the opening nine holes four under par.

The second last-four encounter was a replay of last year's final, and the outcome was also repeated as Stirling beat Collinge 4&3.

After Wednesday's washout, the final proved to be worth the wait as both players put in superb performances as the match swung one way then the other.

Doherty went round the turn one up, and increased his advantage with a superb shot into the par three 10th for an easy birdie that Stirling could not match.

Stirling looked to be wilting under the pressure as he fired a shot out of bounds on the 11th and his rival went three up with a par, but the Harwood man came storming back, winning the 12th and 14th holes with birdies.

The reigning champion's comeback looked to have come off the rails as he overshot the par three 15th and conceded the hole after failing to get up and down from a difficult position.

That put Doherty two up with three to play, but Stirling came roaring back with two iron shots on to the 16th green.

After winning that hole, he planted a tee shot on to the middle of the 17th green and after Doherty's went off the back, his ball nestling next to a tree bark.

The hole was conceded and the finalists went down the last all square. Stirling hit his tee shot into the trees on the par five 18th but both players ended up just off the green with their second shots and the match came down to a chipping contest.

The defending champion pitched his downhill to within six feet, while Doherty ended up 18 feet short. After the challenger narrowly missed his putt, Stirling sunk his to earn his second BDGA men's title.

The senior championships were held at Harwood, where Pike Fold's Mark Forster beat home player Joe Donnelly on the first play-off hole after the pair could not be separated over 18. Harwood players Graham Martin and Paul Smethurst were the beaten semi-finalists.