On a day far better suited for ducks than golf, Jamie Harris added the Sussex Professional Championship to the Assistants' title he won at West Hove last year.

Despite incessant torrential rain and high winds throughout the afternoon at West Hove, the Nevill assistant defied the conditions to return a one over par 143 to claim both Sussex PGU trophies by a clear margin of three strokes.

Six first round starters had no appetite for a return to the course that withstood the elements.

There was no cause for Cliff Pluck, the tournament director, to suspend play. No standing water gathered on the greens nor was there a hint of thunder or lightning.

Nevertheless, playing was sheer misery. It became impossible to keep grips or gloves dry yet Martin Chalcraft, the runner-up, crafted a fine second round of 70 at the height of the storm despite the handicap of wearing glasses.

At the prize giving of the Bill Watts Trophy, Harris praised the 26 finishers. "You all deserve congratulations." His sentiments were echoed by Pluck. "Well done for completing the course."

At stake was the £1,000 first prize in the Coxco sponsored championship from the largest SPGU kitty of the year and Harris deservedly took the cheque after sharing the halfway lead with Simon Buckley on 69 in overcast but dry weather.

As Harris discarded his saturated waterproofs only Buckley stood a realistic chance of catching him.

But Buckley had to sign for 11 more shots than in the morning. He said: "I have never played any tournament in conditions like that. I was four over through the front nine and the last three holes were very hard indeed particularly the last which is nearly 620 yards into the wind. Having said that, Martin Chalcraft's 70 was awesome."

Harris' first championship victory was delivered thanks to a steady second round start.

He birdied the first and fourth holes and parred the rest until a bogey at the 445-yard 12th.

As conditions worsened Harris had bogey figures on the last four holes for a fighting 74 putting him in pole position.

Chalcraft's 70, easily the best of the afternoon, followed an opening 76. The brave effort was notable for birdies at two of the four short holes although the 207-yard 17th was anything but a par three into the gale.

David Mills, who unusually finished 12 over par, summedup: "The course was quite playable but I was drowned after four holes. Martin's round was unbelievable."

Soggy scorecards had to be re-written after the deluge caught the first round tailenders and second round early starters and showed no sign of easing up.

Among those who did not reappear included Jason Partridge after an 80 that included an eight on the long sixth.