Martyn Thompson started the New Year with a victory in the Bournemouth Alliance meeting at Crane Valley - thanks to a book about the golfing techniques and philosophies of David Leadbetter and Ben Hogan.

"It was a Christmas present and I read it in two days," the Parkstone professional said after carding a four-under-par 68 on a grey, murky, damp day.

"It didn't actually teach me anything. It merely confirmed my own thinking about the game.

"But it made me feel better about my approach and I was so pleased I took the unusual step of practising for a long time on Sunday."

He shared the top prize with Gary Emerson who was first out and made seven birdies. He negotiated the front nine in four-under-par 32 with birdies at the second, fifth, sixth and ninth.

He dropped a shot at the tenth, suffered a double-bogey at the 194-yard par three 13th, but achieved further birdies at the12th, 14th and 15th.

Thompson was out in 33 with birdies at the second, fourth, fifth and seventh and he managed six threes. He dropped a shot at the 130-yard sixth when his nine-iron flew through the green.

A five-iron on the 190-yard 16th was also long and he dropped his only other shot. But he made amends with birdies on the final two holes. He drove superbly, often around the 300-yard mark despite wet fairways, and mastered the tricky greens with his cack-handed putting style and holed two putts of 25 feet for birdies.

As the outgoing captain, he made his final speech at the presentation. "We all hope Gary will win this year," he said.

To which the Broadstone touring pro responded: "I've started the season in style - I won today, didn't I? "It's seven or eight years since I played Crane Valley and it has been transformed beyond recognition."

He showed no sign of the ankle injury he suffered after a fall over Christmas and was able to go to South Africa on Sunday to compete in this week's Dunhill Championship in Johannesburg.

Other professional scores: 71 Kevin Spurgeon (Dudsbury), 73 Roger Tuddenham, 74 Martin Cummins (Canford Magna), Graham Howell (Sturminster Marshall), 76 Michael Watson (Weymouth), Nigel Tokely (Broadstone).

l Low handicap Broadstone amateurs Harry Smith (off 4) and Glenn Palmer (5) won the Alf Perry Trophy with a better-ball return of seven-under-par 65. Palmer went round in 78 and Smith in 80.They managed five gross birdies.

Four pairs were one shot behind - Richard White (6), who won the amateur scratch with 77, and Michael Page (Meyrick Park), Howell and Mike Werner (14, Isle of Purbeck), Emerson and Mark Teasdale (11, Broadstone), Thompson and Peter Godsiff (16, Mendip).