NORTHUMBERLAND have won the Junior Golf Tour Cup for the first time after shining brightest at Hartlepool Golf Club.

The north‘s mini tour for juniors has enjoyed its ninth year and featured a string of qualifying events in Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland before the leading players from each area took part in the end of season regional finale.

This year’s competition saw over 250 young players aged 7-13 years old take part in five qualifying events within each county culminating in a regional final which took place on Sunday.

Sixty of the North-East and Cumbria’s most talented young golfers competed and Northumberland won with a total of 678. Durham finished second with 719 shots and Cumbria was third with 773.5 shots.

In the advanced boys there was success for Jaxon Fletcher (Durham) and he was ahead of Jake Blamire (Cumbria), James Lusk (Durham) and Cameron Gilray (Durham).

The beginner boys (11-12) saw Northumberland’s Finlay Bell finish ahead of Ben Blythe (Cumbria), Jack Campbell (Northumberland) and Connor Botone (Durham).

In the (7-10 years) boys Oscar Lees (Northumberland) beat Sam Johnston (Cumbria), Harry Hedley (Northumberland) and Nathan Fisher (Northumberland).

In the advanced girls' Neve Pearson (Durham) was first with Emily Atkinson (Durham), Izabella Knowles (Durham) and Jodie Hodgson (Cumbria) behind.

The beginner girls saw Rebecca Hall (Northumberland) win. Jasmine Lee (County Durham), Grace Dunn (Northumberland) and Sammy Ryden (Cumbria) were behind.

Jason Budd, England Golf Regional Manager, said: “Players of different ages and abilities can all take part - even those new to the sport. Competing on different courses against players of a similar ability is a great way for the young players to develop their golfing skills and test themselves against their peers.

“I would also like to thank all the host venues, volunteers and our team of support staff for making the Junior Tour such a success story. We’ll shortly be reviewing the Junior Golf Tour in order to provide the very best opportunities for young golfers for 2018.”

A course record equalling eight-under par 62 proved the solid foundation for victory as Darlington’s Andrew Wilson won the prestigious Lee Westwood Trophy in South Yorkshire.

The former England A squad member played an almost flawless first round at Rotherham carding seven birdies and an eagle with just one dropped shot on the 17th where he over shot the green and failed to make up and down.

He held a five-stroke lead going into the final round and appeared to be cruising until late drama almost snatched victory from his hands. Four dropped shots on the 14th, 15th and 16th holes suddenly opened up the field and he found himself one behind Fulford’s Charlie Thornton playing in the group ahead.

Thornton accidentally trod on his own ball while searching in the rough just behind the 17th green. A ruling gave him a one shot penalty and the frustration led to three putts and the triple bogey ended his chances.

Wilson, watching on the fairway behind was unaware of the events ahead but he made birdie putting him well in control. A steady par down the last secured his four stroke win with a 72-hole total of four under par 276 (62,71,70,73).

The Darlington Golf Club plus four handicapper said: “I’m delighted with the way I’ve played his week. I’ve been seeing coach Graham Walker recently and that has helped a lot.

“It was pleasing to equal the course record, although in a way I’m disappointed to have been caught out by the wind on the 17th and ending up with a bogey from 130 yards out.

“After that opening round I played pretty solidly and did what I had to do although the bad run on the back nine of the final round nearly saw all the effort wasted. It brought so many players back into it, but I had a solid finish to the round so I’m very pleased.”

DURHAM’S Brancepeth Castle and Northumberland’s Prudhoe have received a national award from England Golf.

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BLACKWELL Grange’s Karen McCabe won the May Lowery Trophy at South Moor with a net 72. It is a prestigious medal competition organised by Durham County Ladies' Golf Association.