WISBECH golfer Richard Allen overcame a back injury to retain his RE/MAX Long Drive English Championship title. Reigning European RE/MAX champion Allen, 23, came through the early rounds of the open tournament but strained a back injury and did just enoug

WISBECH golfer Richard Allen overcame a back injury to retain his RE/MAX Long Drive English Championship title.

Reigning European RE/MAX champion Allen, 23, came through the early rounds of the open tournament but strained a back injury and did just enough to qualify from the semi-finals.

But Allen then got into the swing of things to launch a 336m (370 yard) drive that secured the title, ahead of Finland's Janos Uotila, who shot 324m, and Adam Stacey's effort of 319m.

Allen said: "I tweaked my back in the semi-finals and only just scraped through but I was pleased with my final drive."

The victory was Allen's second in a major championship during July alongside the UK Long Drive Championships at Sunbury Golf Club, in Middlesex.

The double victory sets up Allen for the Dutch National, in Amsterdam, on September 8 and a bid to retain his RE/MAX European Championship title, also in Amsterdam, the following day.