FERNDOWN veteran Mark Davies struck a blow for experience when he held off a challenge from Rob Thomas to win the Hillamsland Trophy at Dudsbury.

The 42-year-old Canford Magna greenkeeper was also elated to beat other leading Dorset youngsters like Ben Harvey, Tom Peacock and Dean Barnes.

"It was a strong field and it was good to prove that I can still do it," he said. "Conditions weren't easy and putting was difficult. They had just cored the greens and the rain hasn't come to smooth them out."

He carded one-over-par 72 in the morning after dropping a shot on the ninth, to lie third, one shot behind home players Matt Smith and Matt Walker.

The breeze picked up in the afternoon when scoring was generally higher. He was surprised to win after a 76.

He said: "It was a bonus to finish in front on 148. I didn't make any errors although I couldn't hole many putts. I simply played sensible golf and ground it out."

It was only his second appearance in the county's first open event of the season. On the last occasion he walked in with back trouble after two holes.

Broadstone plus-one club champion Thomas, aged 23, was well down the field after an opening 76 but he produced the afternoon's best return of 73 to move back into contention.

Davies has decided to retire from county golf. An eyesight problem has caused the 42-year-old Ferndown member some heartache over the past couple of years.

He said: "I had laser surgery on my eyes 18 months ago and it didn't work out as well as expected.

"But I've played county golf for Dorset for around 11 years and I feel it's now time to leave it to the youngsters.

"County golf is largely played between full-time amateurs who want to become professionals. I loosen up on the first tee and then whack it, so I don't feel I am doing justice to the county.

"I don't have time to practice or have lessons. I just turn up. What you see it what you get, so it's time to call it a day.

"But when I'm playing well I'm still not frightened of anybody."

Davies, who comes from Ammanford in South Wales and made his first impact as a county player with Dyfed, announced his arrival in Bournemouth by winning the county championship in 1994.

He retained it the following year and completed an unlikely hat-trick in 2000 when he beat Tony Lawrence.

He was a member of the Dorset Six who qualified for the county finals at La Moye in October after winning the south west qualifier at Broadstone.

He works as a greenkeeper at Canford Magna and says he will miss the involvement with the county.

He added: "The trips away with the lads are always good although driving home late on a Sunday night and then having to get up early for work sometimes took a bit of the gloss off."

But his enthusiasm for the county remains: "If the county are short and I'm around I'll willingly step in," he said. "I'll turn up for matches and even caddy."

He will miss the county championships at Ferndown because he has accepted an invitation from former county captain John Shepherd to visit Scotland.

Shepherd lives in St Andrews and is a member of the local courses.

He has persuaded Davies to enter the St Andrews Links Trophy that clashes with the championship.

But Davies plans to compete in the 36-hole South West Counties championship at Burnham and Berrow in June either as an individual or as a member of Dorset's six-man team.

And he will remain a member of the Ferndown team seeking to retain the Beckford Bowl.

County captain John Smith paid tribute to the contribution he has made over the years.

He said: "Mark has been a stalwart in the county side for such a long time he will be missed. He did warn us at the county finals in Jersey that he was thinking of retiring.

"But it's typical of him that he has offered to turn out if we are short."