MATTHEW WATSON and Emily Baxter are celebrating after picking up the honours at the fifth Mizuno Race 2 Rockliffe.

Watson is the new champion after edging a nail-biting finale against Bishop Auckland’s Dominic Salmon.

The grand final of Durham’s junior golf order of merit at Rockliffe Hall saw the overall winner decided on a card play-off.

Beamish Park’s Watson, 15, returned an excellent round of 75 which was matched by Salmon.

But the former’s better score over the back nine holes proved decisive. Watson, who last year lifted the nett prize on a countback, won a custom fit set of Mizuno irons as the new winner.

Baxter, from Houghton-le-Spring, is the new winner of the net prize after shooting a 71 from a handicap of 19.

Phil Graham, development officer for the Durham County Golf Partnership said: “We are delighted with the way the Race 2 Rockliffe continues to develop as one of the country’s premier order of merit competitions for juniors.

“Competing on different courses against players of a similar ability is a great way for the young players to develop their golfing skills and test themselves against their peers.

“The grand final was once again an excellent day and our thanks go to the players, their supporters and all the volunteers who made the competition possible.”

THE junior section of South Moor have completed a clean sweep of the golf club’s Performance of the Month awards in 2015.

Abbi Wheatley, 13, playing her first season of competition golf, claimed the free box of balls for October from the pro’s shop in recognition of her winning the girls’ nett section in the Race 2 Rockliffe Order of Merit rankings.

The Race 2 Rockliffe is a series of tournaments for youngsters run at weekends and during school holidays culminating in a grand final at Rockliffe Hall.

Abbi won at Seaton Carew and Billingham, tied first at Beamish Park, earned second place spots at Ramside and Boldon and chalked up top five finishes at Brancepeth Castle, Darlington and Durham City.

A pupil at Fyndoune Community College in Sacriston, Abbi lives near the South Moor club in Craghead, Stanley.

South Moor introduced the Performance of the Month award in August. The first recipient was Cameron Gilray, who won the Under-10 section of the 2015 Srixon Durham County Junior Tour.

In September Chris Handy became the first golfer in the 92-year history of the club to land a national title when he finished three strokes clear of the field in the English Boys’ County Champion of Champions.

The club’s Performance of the Month Award is also open to the male, female and senior sections of the club but nobody has been able to halt the run of success enjoyed by the juniors.

South Moor run fun golf sessions for young beginners aged three to 12 every Wednesday evening costing £2 a week, held indoors in bad weather and open to non-members.

For information visit www.southmoorgc.co.uk and click on Pro’s Shop.