THERE was a clear winner of the North of England Youths Open at Middlesbrough Brass Castle last week.

Haider turned on the style to claim the prestigious trophy by a staggering nine shorts after posting super rounds of 65 and 68.

Nearest challenger James Robinson struggled to keep up with the 20-year-old from The Kendleshire Club.

Hussain had already built up a strong lead at the halfway stage courtesy of a 68 66.

But he took things to a new level his stunning third round 65 to blitz the field before closing strongly too.

The Fairweather Salver for the younger golfers was won by Hallamshire's Barclay Brown, who is a former winner of the North of England Under-14s title at South Moor. Brown posted 72 70 71 72.

The Bates Trophy for the highest-placed Middlesbrough player was won by James Swash with 70 71 71 74.

WHITBY Golf Club bounced back to become the England Golf Club Team Champions at the second attempt last week.

“Last year we were abysmal!” laughed Bob Scott, who teamed up with his partner, Janet McGeehin, and their friends Siew Choon Tan and Mike Coates for both attempts. “We weren’t going to let that lie, so we came back to show that we can play well.”

This year the team grabbed their second chance, hit top form, scored 87 points on the Blue course at Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire – and flew the flag for their club.

Whitby is a small club and an ecstatic Siew Choon said: “This is a very big deal, it will raise our club’s profile.”

Whitby finished one point ahead of the team from Downes Crediton, Devon. Behind them, third place was shared on 81 points by Marriott Worsley Park Golf Club in Manchester and Elton Furze Golf Club in Cambridgeshire.

MAGGIE WHITEHEAD has just returned from a fantastic trip to compete in the US Kids World Golf Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

The Ramside Golf Club youngster finished tied 29th out of 102 competitors in the Under-10s girls’ category. Her scores of 86, 79 and 77 - for a 26 over total – ensured she finished as the top European and top British competitor.

The winner in the category was Canadian Vanessa Borovolis with a score of four under. Maggie will head to the US Kids British Junior Championships at Woodhall Spa to try to qualify for the world championships again in 2017.

A COUNCIL decision to sponsor a golf tournament in the north this week has led to a record entry and an appeal for more community projects worthy of support.

Players have travelled from as far afield as Dubai and South Africa for an event known as “The Youngsters Open”, as well as from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the support of the Stanley Area Action Partnership, the third year of the North of England Under-14 Open has attracted a 97-strong field to County Durham.

The three-day tournament started today (August 10) at South Moor. County councillor Mark Davinson said: “This is a real success story. I wish we could have many more approaches for sustainable projects which enhance the local area as well as this one does.

“Developments for 2017 sound like a further step forward and we are pleased we could help. The council wishes South Moor Golf Club good luck with their tournament.”