A TEENAGE golfer from Darlington is celebrating after claiming a prestigious title to further enhance his rapidly rising reputation.

Harrison Hodgson, a member at both Darlington and Rockliffe Hall clubs, is heading for the Under-16s North of England Championship after winning the Under-14s equivalent at South Moor, County Durham.

Beamish Park golfer Alex Stevenson, returning to her former club and continuing to develop in style, was in a class of her own in finishing 19 strokes clear of the field to win the girls’ trophy with one-under 72 followed by 80 and 81 for a 14-over total of 233.

In the absence of a play-off, the 2015 boys’ title was shared between Darlington’s gifted Hodgson and Sheffield's Barclay Brown, the defending champion and an England Boys cap.

They tied on five-over totals of 221, respectable for players in their early teens taking on a course with Augusta style fast - and mainly vast - sloping greens. Both shot par 72 in a last round which brought a 15-over 87 for the overnight leader, Southport & Ainsdale’s Matthew Jackman.

From five shots clear of the field, Jackman dropped to eighth place. Hodgson, a pupil at Hurworth School, trains with England Golf’s north regional boys squad.

His father Stewart is co-owner of the Billingham based Belasis IFA, trading as Fairstone Financial Management. A major supporter of golf, Fairstone sponsor the men’s home amateur internationals and the Golf Club Managers’ Association.

Harrison was delighted with his victory. He said: "It was a great competition over the three days and very well run, this is the second time I've played in it. The course is very interesting and good quality.

"I was very pleased with the way I played overall but did leave a lot of putts short. I could have shot an even lower score. But I decided at the start of the competition not to push it too hard and I stuck with my game plan.

"The birdie at 17 was great and then a safe par at the last was a good finish for me. Over all three days I parred 14 or 15 of the holes which made for a solid round. I'm looking forward to competing in the Under-16s this week in the Wirral, Liverpool at Heswall Golf Club."

It is hoped the valuable tournament in terms of a young golfer's development will return to South Moor next year - and for ever more if a former president of England Golf has his way.

Roy Case, who organises the two-year-old North of England Under-14s Open, is a former chairman of the international junior selectors.

Between 1994 and 2007, Case steered the England team to two world titles plus victories in four European championships and eight home internationals. He is now lead partner in Golf Concepts LP, a Nottinghamshire business who manage golf tournaments.

Case said: “This tournament will be held at South Moor in perpetuity. It is theirs to put on for as long as they want it.

“You could not possibly ask for any more than the way Guy Carr, one of the committee men, and his enormous band of willing and inordinately helpful volunteers have gone about making this tournament the success it has been in its first two years of existence."

The tournament, sponsored by Stanley Area Action Partnership, was founded by Case who also created the England Boys Under-16s Open, the McGregor Trophy.

That was 33 years ago and the list of McGregor winners who have gone on to greater things includes 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose and European Tour winners Edoardo Molinari and Graeme Storm.

When the McGregor was staged at South Moor in 2011, The Northern Echo supported the event. Following that tournament, South Moor expressed an interest in hosting a significant junior event on an annual basis.

Case said: “The idea behind this relatively new event is to give boys and girls not playing a national level tournament at this age level the opportunity to gain experience of competitive regional golf. Word is spreading – this year we had entries from Hong Kong, South Africa and Spain.”

The tournament includes a separate section for Under-12s plus handicap competitions for the whole field. The boys and girls go round the course playing golf together and, although there are separate prizes and different pars, if a girl should ever sign for a 54-hole total better than that of the leading boy then she will be crowned the North of England champion.

LEADING SCORES AND PRIZE WINNERS

221 Harrison Hodgson (Darlington) 73 76 72; Barclay Brown (Hallamshire) 76 73 72

222 Robin Williams (Peterborough Milton) 73 75 74

225 Archie Davies (Carlisle) 77 73 75

227 Oliver Abbott (Pannal) 75 78 74

Under 12s Winner: Henry Hayward, (Kedleston Park) 80 79 81 - 240

Girls Winner: Alex Stevenson (Beamish Park) 72 80 81 - 233

Handicap Winner: William Hill (Rufford Park) 69 - 63 67 - 199 [Handicap 15]

Handicap Winner Under 12s: Constance Brooks (Gaudet Luce) 68 70 75 - 213 [Handicap 13]

Girls Handicap Winner: Emily James (Rossendale) 74 69 68 - 211 [Handicap 19]

Gross Team Trophy: Worksop College A - 297

Barclay Brown, Archie Davies, Eddie Turner Bennet (Worksop)

Handicap Team Trophy: New Generation Golf - 275

Porscha Wilson (Burntisland), Ryan Anderton, (Chorley ), Matthew Jackman (Southport & Ainsdale)