ASH Whitehouse has started the Murray Darling Golf Association Open season with victory in the Merbein Open.

Rounds of 72 and 71 saw the decorated golfer claim back-to-back titles at "Royal Merbein" and give him an early jump in the recently installed Order of Merit award.

Whitehouse, who avoided the rainy weather that greeted him 12 months ago, finished four strokes ahead of defending Red Cliff...