JONATHAN Hurst couldn't have a better lesson in keeping cool ahead of the British Amateur Championship.

The Shaw Hill golfer has been paired with the Ice men for Monday's opening round at Southport and Ainsdale as he looks to build on an excellent performance in the Lancashire Amateur Championship at the weekend.

Hurst finished third at St Annes Old Links, one of only three golfers who didn't shoot over par in the four rounds.

And it's given the 19-year-old the confidence to approach the national competition in good spirits - especially given the pedigree of his qualifying partners.

"I've been paired with two Icelandic lads and I'm glad about that," said Hurst. "They're both off plus three so it will be a good insight into their game and the standard I can expect to be up against. But it will also be a good confidence boost.

"I think my game can stand up to anybody's on a good day. I'm off plus one but that doesn't necessarily mean I can't beat someone who is off plus three.

"It's only a couple of birdies here and there and on my day I can do it. I've had two 63s in the past so I know what I can do.

"I've struggled at the end of last year and struggled at the beginning of this year but a couple of rounds have just lifted me.

"That 68 in the county championship and a few good knocks at my home club have got me back on form."

County captain Bardsley took the Lancashire honours on Sunday as his four under par total gave him a win by three shots.

It was the Denton player's fourth win in five years and equalled the record of five set by Sam Robinson in 1929.

After the first two rounds on Friday and Saturday Hurst was three shots ahead of Bardsley but the 43-year-old struck a 68 and a 70 in the final two rounds to storm to victory.

At the halfway stage the leader was Rossendale's Mark Whittaker, who opened impressively with a 70 and 72 but fell away with a 76 and 74.

As for Hurst, it was a bad start that ultimately cost him but the improvement on last year's performance has given him hope for the 2006 event at Clitheroe.

"I was fifth last year so I hope next year I can go up another two places!" said Hurst, who finished level par.

"I thought if I shot the first round in the 60s I would have a good lead going into the next day but I shot 75.

"It was very breezy and considering the conditions I was quite pleased but I was level par going out before the wind picked up.

"It was pleasing to get a 68 on the Saturday but there was a rain delay on the Sunday and I lost my momentum."

But the difficult opening day also seemed to have left Bardsley under the weather as he came in one shot worse off with a 76.

"At that stage I don't think Bob really knew he was going to win it," added Hurst.

"He was chucking shots away, which he never does, but then he shot three sub par rounds so he was a worthy winner."

Whittaker finished four under, as did Nelson's Craig Fort, and Michael Hunt of Pleasington was five over.

In the British Amateur Championship, the 64 lowest scores at Southport and Royal Birkdale go through to the matchplay stage, culminating in the final at Birkdale a week on Sunday.