DARLINGTON’S Andrew Wilson finished in the top 30 at the Lytham Trophy at the weekend.

Wilson, playing out of the Wynyard Club, followed up an opening round 73 with a 75 and back to back 77s to end on 22 over for the tournament.

That was 18 shy of winner Alfie Plant, from Sundridge, although second placed Frenchman Ugo Coussaud was on 11 over along with Cawder’s Jamie Savage and Kedleston Park’s Bradley Moore.

THE R&A has appointed two new starters for The Open, David Lancaster and Matt Corker, who will announce the players on the first tee at Royal Troon.

Lancaster will become The Open’s official starter, announcing the world’s best players as they begin their rounds on the historic Ayrshire links. Corker will provide support during the several hours that Lancaster sends players off on each of the Championship days.

They will replace Ivor Robson, who retired last year at St Andrews after serving as official starter for more than 40 years.

A NUMBER of North-East golf clubs have received a total of over £50,000 from Sport England to help them repair damage from the winter floods.

The awards from the Emergency Flood Relief Fund ranged from just over £2000 to £5000. Only one club had its application refused and another was deferred for more information.

Abbie Lench, England Golf’s head of club support, said: “We’re pleased that so many clubs were able to access the emergency fund, it has been gratefully received.

Sport England have produced some additional guidance around flood planning and flood prevention and clubs which would like to find out more can email info@englandgolf.org”

Among the successful clubs was South Moor, Durham, which was shut for over four weeks after persistent rain flooded the course, damaging the paths and one of the greens where a drainage pipe collapsed. It received £4,926 towards the costs of repairs.

South Moor has become expert at accessing funds – receiving over £100,000 in five years – and it was also able to help two other clubs to make successful applications for flood relief.

Catterick (£2,131), Heworth (£4,750), Hobson (£2,000), Ravensworth (£5,000), Stocksfield (£4,400) and Tynedale (£5,000) all received funding too.

FOOTBALL legends Peter Beardsley, Bob Moncur, Bryan "Pop" Robson and Ritchie Pitt are among the stars competing in the inaugural South Moor Masters celebrity and media golf day on June 1.

The tournament has been created in memory of a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Dr Alister MacKenzie, who designed both the South Moor and Augusta National courses.

Moncur, Fairs Cup captain in 1969, and Pitt, a 1973 FA Cup winner whose glittering career was cruelly cut short by injury, played in the most recent Newcastle and Sunderland sides to win a major trophy. The golf day's lead sponsor is Pin Point Recruitment.