ENGLAND prospect Andrew Wilson was celebrating on Sunday when he made the short drive to Rockliffe Hall to clinch the Northern Golf Masters title.

The 21-year-old, from the Hurworth venue’s neighbouring town Darlington, finished five shots clear of the field to win the 36-hole competition ahead of Durham City’s Alex Robinson and Hartlepool’s Cameron Wallace.

Wynyard member Wilson’s 142 (-2) total proved too hot for anyone else on the day as he showed why he has had an England A call-up as well as represented Durham County regularly.

He said: “It was a fantastic event at Rockliffe Hall and the course is amazing. It was a great experience in itself, competing in a top event on a world class course – but to win it, I still can’t believe it!”

Forty category one golfers from across the North-East took part in the Northern Golf Masters when it returned to Rockliffe for a fourth year as part of the prestigious Durham County scratch event schedule which earns ranking points for the County Scratch Order of Merit.

THIS weekend will see a trio from Durham City Golf Club target a local win when the English Champion Club Tournament is played at Brancepeth Castle.

A Durham club has held this title only once before when Hartlepool were the winners back in 1996. But Andrew Bell, Jack Richardson and Alex Robinson will aim to hold off the challenge of 33 other clubs from all over the country this Saturday and Sunday.

Brancepeth Castle – who hosted the event ten years ago when Rotherham won - has given their neighbours freedom of the course in the run-up to the tournament, to support the local bid for success.

Club captain Steve Rose said: “The course is a tremendous test of golf from the blue tees. It gets its character from the ravine which runs through the course and there are some tough carries.”

The tournament is contested by the champion club from each English county and the winners will represent England in the European Champion Club Tournament.

DURHAM County Union’s Seniors team finished a respectable second in the Northern Counties Seniors’ Championship Big Six when it was held at Castle Eden.

It was a productive day for Durham when they were up against some quality opposition with prizes secured for best net score as well top gross scores in both the morning and afternoon.

Chester-le-Street’s Mike Baker, who recently won the Durham Seniors title, clinched hit the best first round score of 71 while team-mate Geoff Wilkinson also hit an identical best score on the afternoon. Yorkshire’s Peter Ward carded the best two round total of 143.

Yorkshire ended up winning with a 740-shot team total, with Durham second on 747. Cheshire were four shots further back in third.