Ben Mason fought his way through the pain barrier to win his maiden PGA North Region tournament.

The 35-year-old former European Tour player injured a rib muscle four months ago and is almost certain that hay fever was to blame.

“I remember suffering from a sneezing bout and found myself in agony the next day,” said Cookridge Hall assistant Mason after a his runaway five-shot victory in the Spirotech Open at Manchester’s Marriott Worsley Park.

“Pain killers helped me to carry on playing but apart from finishing second in the Brough Classic there was not much else worth mentioning.

“This is the first week I’ve felt comfortable and I believe I cured myself by hitting 150 balls during a lesson from my coach Gareth Benson at Astley Driving Range just down the road from here.”

Mason, who paired his first-round 68 with a closing 66 in the worst of the weather to post an impressive eight-under-par total, hardly hit a stray shot over the two days.

“My game was solid and that kept me out of trouble and my only mistakes were three-putting the 18th hole twice for bogeys.

“Mason, who spent a decade on the European circuit before settling down in Sheffield two years ago, opened his final round with a birdie and added six more to overtake the overnight leaders and pick up the £1,250 winner’s cheque.

That will come in handy as he prepares to marry childhood sweetheart Jo in December.