METICULOUS attention to detail paid dividends for David Cook as he lifted his second Dorset county championship title at Weymouth.

“I came up with a plan of how to play Weymouth after visiting there in March,” explained Cook, who hadn’t played at the centenary-celebrating club for more than 15 years.

“The key to success at Weymouth is chipping, especially from around 90 yards out, so I went away and started practising that part of my game.

“I didn’t tell anyone else what I was doing, it was my little secret,” added the 35-year-old Parkstone player.

Cook toppled home favourite Jon Welch 3 and 2 in the final to regain the Graham Butler Trophy, he last won on home soil in 2004.

The two-time county champion raced to a three-hole lead after seven holes and saw off a spirited fightback from Welch who closed the gap to one after back-to-back birdies from the ninth.

But he regained his two-hole advantage with a birdie of his own at the 11th.

Despite losing the 14th, Cook closed out the match at the 16th when Welch found the bushes from the tee.

Cook also won the Garrett Salver for the leading qualifier in the stroke play competition on Saturday with a two-under-par 139 total.

He carded rounds of 70 and 69 to finish two shots ahead of Weymouth’s Colin Drage (67, 74) and a further stroke ahead of Parkstone team-mate Dan Smith (73, 69).

The 16 qualifiers from the 36-hole competition progressed to the match play phase with Cook overcoming local player Henry Hope 4 and 3 in the first round.

Cook’s other victories included an emphatic 8 and 7 win over Andy Horn (Bournemouth and Meyrick Park), and a narrow one-hole victory over Parkstone and county team-mate David Norton.

Last year’s county champion Tim Adams’s defence lasted just 17 holes as he lost his ball on the final hole of the morning’s play on Saturday for a ‘no return’.

But Adams responded well with a one-under-par 71 in the afternoon to help Parkstone win the team competition. The club represent the county in the national finals at North Hants in September.