YORKSHIRE emerged as the winners when the Northern Counties’ Golf Union held the Boys’ Championship, with the Durham team pushing them the closest.

Boys’ teams from six of the seven counties battled it out over 36 holes of stroke play at Warrington Golf Club with the best five scores from each six-man team counting for each round.

Now Yorkshire will represent the North of England in the England Golf Boys’ County Championship at Northamptonshire on August 29-31.

That will be when the team aims to become the first county from the North of England win since 2012 when Yorkshire triumphed at Cotswold Hills.

Yorkshire played some great golf and came in for lunch with an excellent score of 338 aided by a magnificent seven under par round of 64 from Michael Hay, sub-par rounds of 67 from both Alex Fitzpatrick and James Swash, a 69 from Jack Leversidge and solid support from Callum McFie (71) and Charlie Daughtrey (71).

Yorkshire had a commanding 18 shot lead after the first round with Durham on 356, hosts Cheshire on 357, Cumbria on 360, Lancashire on 361 and Northumberland trailing on 370. Durham’s James Wilson (69) was among those to shoot a sub-par round.

In the afternoon Yorkshire’s lead started to fade away. Durham’s five counting scores were all under par with Matthew Watson (66), Jack Ainscough (67), Will Marshall (67), Will Skipp (69) and Wilson (70) doing their county proud.

Yorkshire’s winning total score of 686 was 24 under par for the 6,216 yard Warrington course. Out of the 72 scores recorded by the players, 37 rounds were either under or level par.

Individual honours went to Luke Kelly who won the John Todd Trophy for the best 36 hole score (134), Hay for the best morning round (64) and George Mitchell for the best afternoon round (65).

Durham’s Ben Bailey, who shot 72-74 at the Boys’ Championship, was crowned Wynyard’s club champion last weekend. He shot 72-71 over the Wellington course to claim the title.

PROFESSIONALS from across the north made their way to Teesside when there was a three-way share of the North-East & North-West Pro-Am title at Seaton Carew.

Just a day after Phil Nicholson claimed the Seaton club championship for the fourth time by edging out close friend Scott Phillips in a three-hole play-off, the pros’ turned up to try to conquer the links.

The professionals found the Dr Alister MacKenzie designed course – the same man who created the Augusta National - on the North Sea coast was a tough nut to crack.

South Moor’s Mark Ridley, Morpeth’s David Clark and Stephen Kyle posted the top strokeplay scores of the day of one-under 72.

Last year’s winner Craig Goodfellow of Carlisle, who travelled the following day to take part in Final Qualifying for the Open, was a shot behind along with Matfen’s John Harrison.

Tom Flowers, the secretary of the NE & NW PGA, said: “I think that this was the first occasion when the professionals of the NE & NW PGA had played over the Brabazon Course and the scores reflected what a formidable test the course is and particularly on a fairly gentle day in terms of the weather.

“Course feedback from professionals and amateurs was very positive, they thought that it was a cracking course, but tough, although enjoyable.

“The event itself was successful and enhanced prizes resulting from significant sponsorship was most welcomed by the players.”

The leading team score at the Pro-Am saw Rockliffe Hall’s Martyn Stubbings top the leaderboard alongside Seaton members Luke Verrall, Mark Wilson and Michael Wilson on 126 points. That was four clear of second place.