FOUR of the region’s young golfers played their part for England Schools’ when they took on their Scottish counterparts.

James Wilson (Walbottle Campus & Tyneside), Jack Trewhitt (Byron College & Castle Eden), Will Marshall (Gateshead College & Heworth) and Jessica Hall (Durham Sixth Form Centre & Bishop Auckland) were involved.

All four – who booked their places with performances at the National Schools’ Championships in June - scored important points in the 41st annual fixture at Fairhaven, Lytham.

Hall not only clinched her first cap but she was additionally awarded the honour the girls’ team captain and they went on to win 5-4.

She rose to the occasion in the match, capturing 1.5 points in her games against girls who had played in the ‘home international series’ for Scotland girls in August. In the boys’ match, England were 4–2 down at the break but came back to win the singles matches 7–5 and drew the match 9-9.

Crucial to the score was Wilson’s performance. The 2016 Durham County Union Matchplay champion used his experience wisely to win both his singles and foursomes matches.

In the morning foursomes he played with the England captain, Will Hopkins (Lincolnshire). He played arguably the shot of the day when he pitched to a foot on the 18th to ensure they maintained their one-hole advantage through to the end of the match.

Trewhitt and Marshall narrowly lost their foursomes match in the morning 2-1 to an experienced Scottish pairing that had played together on numerous occasions including the 2016 Boys’ Home Internationals in Ireland.

INGLEBY BARWICK’S Ross Jackson is starting up a Junior Foundation and Junior Tour in his name. It is hoped they will provide a platform for junior golf development within the North-East; both are non-profit organisations with proceeds going to coaching or tournament initiatives.

The Ross Jackson Golf Foundation will include monthly coaching initiatives/events, free of charge coaching to access the sport and will be open to all ages/standards. It will look to deliver golf in house and in the community.

The Ross Jackson Golf Junior Tour will stage 10-12 events during 2017. There will be a grand final including an annual presentation. It is aimed at all ages and standards.

There will be a unique teeing system and tournament formats which will facilitate all ages/standards to compete against one another.

Jackson said: “The aim of both projects isn’t just to provide short term assistance, my aim to establish both organisations with the longevity that will spearhead junior golf development within the region.

“I have been fortunate to enrol a trustee for the foundation in James Sloan (Director of Arc Finance, Health, Wealth, Estate Agents), in addition to Ellie Givens (Ladies European Tour player) as junior tour ambassador/mentor.

“We are looking to increase awareness and attract commercial partners and sponsors to help establish, grow and develop both organisations. Let me know your thoughts on these matters, I look forward to your response.”

MARK RAYSON Golf and The Junior Golf Academy at Beamish Park Hotel will stage an Autumn half term golf school this month.

The school will run over two days on Monday, October 24 and Tuesday, October 25 and the second session will be followed by a five hole sprint competition on the Par 3 Academy Course.

Boys and girls, from beginners to experienced, are all welcome. Training will be scaled to suit the progress of each player. The cost is £25 per day for academy members and £30 for non-members.

Rayson, a PGA professional coach, said: “Players only get out of golf what they put in. Golf is about getting better with winning a bi-product of the constant pursuit of excellence. Golfers will only improve in 2017 if they prepare, work hard and train smart over winter. The real work starts right here, right now.”

Call 07927754952 or email mark@markraysongolf.com.

NEIL Raine walked away with the winners’ prizes on both days of Richmond Golf Club’s Oktoberfest weekend, winning the Team Stableford competition before claiming the Individual Stableford 24 hours later.

Raine teamed up with Stuart Dozey, Ryan Howe and Ash Green in the team event and their best-two scores total of 91 points was enough to win on countback from Steve Willis, Jim Love, Jon Freeman and Neville Wallis.

Raine’s 42-point total in the Individual Stableford saw him finish one point ahead of runner-up Gary Catt (41) with Rob Eldred (40) a point further back in third place.