JACK TREWHITT and Will Skipp are hoping a one-two in the 25th Durham Schools’ Championships will lead to further glory during an exciting 2016.

The Castle Eden and Eaglescliffe teenagers both shone brightly at Beamish Park on a cold and overcast day to continue their progress, along with Bishop Auckland's Jessica Hall and Beamish's very own Alex Stevenson.

It was the first time Trewhitt, representing Peterlee’s Byron Sixth Form, had played in the schools’ championships and did not disappoint, claiming the Under-18s title with a gross score of 72.

The 18-year-old, studying engineering at College, said: “I was Durham champion when I was 14, Teesside Union champion last year and I played for the county Under-18s regularly, so this is another honour which is right up there with those.

“To be fair I was playing well on the day and I had been playing well lately so I fancied my chances, even though it was the first time I had played in it because I had not really known about it.

“I birdied the first even though my tee shot went left towards the trees. I hit a five iron decent into middle, chipped to within a foot and got a birdie so got plenty of confidence after that. I was nervous coming up the last because I knew I was in with a great chance.”

Shotton’s Trewhitt plans to play in the Fairhaven later this year as well as compete in the North of England Youths at Middlesbrough’s Brass Castle. The scratch golfer, who started playing competitively at 13 and is a good friend of England international Jack Ainscough, has ambitions to go to the United States.

Perhaps just as impressively at Beamish that day, though, was the performance of 14-year-old Skipp, whose 73 not only earned him second spot in the Under-18s category but also the Under-16s crown he won 12 months ago.

The student at Hartlepool’s Dyke House Sports & Technology College successfully defended the title he won and he is still young enough to try to claim a hat-trick next year.

Skipp edged Hurworth Comprehensive’s Harrison Hodgson into second after his 76 gross in the under-16s and those two are nominated to represent Durham in the National Under-16s Schools' Championships in July.

Skipp said: “I didn’t even think I played that well either. I played alright from tee to green but the putts did not go in, which is unusual for me. I had my moments too. I lipped out for a two when I missed an eagle putt at the fifth, a par five. Had that gone in I might have even won the Under-18s.”

Skipp, playing off three, will head to the Royal Ashdown Golf Club on July 12-14 to compete in the McGregor Trophy and a week before that he will be at West Lothian to challenge for the Scottish Under-16s title.

In the girls’ Schools’ Championship Durham Sixth Form’s Hall, from Bishop Auckland, shot 77 to win by one shot from fellow student Katie Atkinson.

The Girls’ Under-16s event was won for the third time by Tanfield School’s Stevenson with an 81 gross, which was 13 clear of Shotton Hall’s Charlotte Preece. Stevenson is also nominated by Durham for the National Under-16s Schools' Championships.

The best net score of both sections came from young players. Skipp (Year 9) with a 70 and Faye Sanderson (Year 6) posted (102-32) for a 70 too.

The Team Championship was won by Durham Sixth Form College’s B Team, who had an aggregate score of 143; edging out their C Team by three shots.

Sam Harrison (75), Cameron Johnson (74) and Gabrielle Dickinson (69) will now go forward as Durham champions to the Nationals at Woodhall Spa on July 6.

Further north in Northumberland a 15-year-old from Hexham was the star of the show in the Northumberland Schools’ Championships played at Prudhoe.

Playing in her first Northumberland Schools’ event Francesca Chilton, from Queen Elizabeth High School, swept all before her in winning the senior girls title as well as the Under-16 Championships. Her 81 gross score was two shots clear of another 15-year-old, Jessica Baker of Westfield, who carded an 83.

The Boys’ title was a much closer run thing with the Under-16 England International James Wilson (Walbottle Campus) carding a 75 gross and winning on countback from Mathew Wood (Whitley Bay High School) and Jack Johnston (Haydon Bridge High School).