THE windy conditions proved perfect on the Seaton Carew links for Hughie Hamilton to claim his fourth Seaton Salver on his home course.

The prestigious Salver attracted golfers from across the country to the area on Saturday but it was Hamilton, a member there for 37 years, who did the damage by dealing with the conditions.

Hamilton won the Durham County Championship in 2004 and he shot a 70-74 to win by one from City of Newcastle’s Mark Wharton 73-72. Lindrick’s Richard Hodgkinson was third after shooting 71-75, while Cameron Wallace, Robert Moon and Nick Raybould were just behind.

Hamilton said: “It did help that I’m used to playing in the wind here and it does bring the big hitters back to me - I can’t hit it like them, they’re 30 yards past me, but I am straight.

“I haven’t played much for about two years because of work and family but I have made a conscious effort to practise and play a bit more this year.

“I wasn’t even going to play today but I thought ‘you know what, it’s my home championship and I want to play’ and I’m chuffed to bits to have now won it four times.

“I didn’t think I’d be standing up getting the Salver at the end of the day and I hope there might be a fifth.”

Hamilton has been a county golfer for a long time and has proven to himself that he is still capable of delivering and he loved the day.

He said: “That’s possibly the best I have ever played the back nine in all the years I’ve played here and I’ve been a member 37 years. It has to be one of the toughest back nines! Then I basically hung on in the second round and played very well but didn’t hole anything.

“One of the members came up to me and told me 145 was in - I really didn’t want to know that, but they always tell you anyway, and I was two over stood on the 17th tee. I hit driver and rescue club into 17 and then driver and four iron into the 18th. I knew I possibly needed two pars to win and it was probably the hardest thing I’ve done on a golf course.”

FIFTY-ONE youngsters gathered from across the UK to compete in the first of Graeme Storm’s Mini Storm events.

The new tournament is aimed at 7-10-year-olds and is a spin-off of the Graeme Storm Junior Open that was in its third year.

The Mini Storm was played at Wynyard in glorious weather and European Tour player Storm was on the first tee to see them drive off over a slightly shortened front nine.

Seaton Carew’s Amy Burton finished second in the girls by carding 52 behind winner Charlotte Naughton (49). Millie Hixon was third and Katie Westmoreland fourth.

Solomon Canning won the boys section with an impressive 39, a shot clear of Harry Price.