DURHAM are celebrating success in the Northern Counties Boys’ County Qualifying Championship for the second year in a row.

The six-man team emerged on top of the group of Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire and Isle of Man and arrived just 12 months after Durham achieved the same outcome for the first time since 1986.

Chris Handy (South Moor), Aaron McManus (Darlington), James Wilson (Tyneside), Jack Ainscough (Hartlepool), Ryan Dixon (Castle Eden), Thomas Harbord (Castle Eden) and reserve Will Marshall (Heworth) delivered at Seascale Golf Club, Cumbria, in windy conditions.

Durham were 16 points behind Lancashire but pulled off the comeback of all comebacks by making up the deficit and more to win the title by two strokes. Dixon parred the last when he only needed a bogey to win the title for Durham. Wilson recorded the best individual round with a 73 (+2).

Durham will travel to the National Finals at Kings Lynn, Norfolk, on August 25-27 and the Union are looking for a sponsor to support the cost of sending the team to the finals.

Anyone interested contact Union secretary Jonathan Ward on (0191) 3740788.

TWO gifted young Seaton Carew golfers will get a taste of what it is like to play at this year’s Open venue later this year.

Lucca Jackson and Jack Burton will both follow Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods to St Andrews when they play in the HSBC Wee Wonders Grand Final on August 29/30.

Jackson progressed from the 5-6 age group in style with Burton joining him by winning the 9-10 competition at Leeds Golf Centre last weekend.

The victories also mean they have also qualified for the US Kids Championship in May next year at East Lothian’s Gullane course.

Seaton Carew pro Cliff Jackson, the father of Lucca, said: “I’m extremely proud of Lucca for how well he played. It was fantastic to see Jack go through too. It’s going to be great for junior golf at Seaton Carew to have two of our club’s prospects at St Andrews and Gullane.

“We have just opened a new six-hole academy course at Seaton and that is only going to help the likes of Lucca and Jack – and our other young players –develop.”

A BARNARD Castle golfer will have no excuse for missing his next tee-time after winning a BOSS watch for achieving a hole-in-one.

Graham Shipman, 53, scored his ace on the 165-yard, par-three 11th at Barnard GC, and the 19-handicapper was rewarded with membership of the exclusive BOSS Watches H1Club and a specially-commissioned timepiece.

WOULD your son or daughter like to have a go at golf?

Parents or guardians of any boys or girls aged three to 12 are welcome to book in their youngsters for weekly Wednesday evening fun sessions at the South Moor club in Craghead, Stanley.

Cut-down clubs are used for these junior beginners’ evenings.

The South Moor Wednesday sessions are run all year round, start at 6pm, last for an hour and cost £2 a week.

To book in your youngsters, phone either of the club’s PGA professionals, Shaun Cowell or Mark Ridley, on (01207) 283525.