TEENAGER Ryan Dixon stunned Castle Eden Golf Club with his brilliance last weekend.

The recently turned 17-year-old, one of four of the club’s youngsters playing in the Carris Trophy this week, warmed up for his trip to Hunstanton Golf Club in style.

Dixon, a plus handicapper, carded a staggering 64 six under to win a club competition at Castle Eden.

After bogeying the first, Dixon turned on the style from there on in. He followed up a birdie at the third by making further birdies at 8, 9, 11, 13 and 18, as well as eagling the par five tenth.

Dixon, a local, has been a member at Castle Eden since he was just five and has made the cut at the Carris Trophy, where fellow club-mates Jack Trewhitt, Thomas Harbord and Cameron Wallace – also attached to Seaton Carew – are involved.

YOUNG golfers from South Africa and the Middle East are among the favourites for the North of England Under-14 Open in County Durham on August 10-12.

Liam van Deventer, from the Benoni Lake club in Johannesburg, is the only one handicapper entered so far. Joshua Hill (Dubai) plays off three.

The current leading North-East challenger in the mixed tournament at South Moor in Stanley is Rosie Belsham, a six handicapper from Whitley Bay.

The Open trophy goes to the golfer with the lowest gross score, whether male or female.

With the tournament likely to be over subscribed for the first time, officials expect the cut-off point to create a field consisting entirely of Under-14s who are single figure golfers.

The event includes handicap and Under-12 prizes for both boys and girls.

This is the third year of and a club survey estimates the value to the County Durham economy since 2014 will be over £150,000 by the time the 2016 event is over.

One of the organisers, Guy Carr, said: “This takes into account spending by players and their parents on accommodation, food, and general day to day purchases.”

The course at South Moor was designed by Yorkshireman Alister MacKenzie, who also created Augusta National.

There are 11 Yorkshire youngsters entered, led by Ben Schmidt, a four-handicapper from Rotherham.

England Boys cap Barclay Brown, from the Hallamshire club in Sheffield, won the inaugural tournament and shared the title last year.

*Entries close at 12.0 noon on Monday, July 25. The website address is www.northofenglandu14golf.co.uk.

RUTH SUFFELL has been crowned the ladies champion at Catterick Golf Club.

Suffell won the ladies club championship after posting a two round 180 total last weekend after shooting 90-90.

Paula Hamer was in control after the first round when her 88 was two ahead of Suffell and Vicky Iveson. But Iveson, who posted 93 in the second round, dropped off to leave Suffell clear. Pat Weymes won the best net prize.

On Open Championship weekend, Anthony Martin won the Claret Jug Trophy at Catterick. The men played a stroke competition and their net score was added to the score of an allocated player at Royal Troon.

Martin, paired with Thongchai Jaidee, won it with 67+71, 138; with Jeff Mills finishing second with Henrik Stenson on 75+63, 138.