TWO North-East golfers are in Portugal this week pressing to repeat the heroics of European Ryder Cup stars Justin Rose and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

Bishop Auckland’s Jessica Hall, who lives in Witton-le-Wear, is playing in the final of the 2017 Telegraph Vitality Junior Golf Championship at the Quinta do Lago resort, along with Newcastle’s James Wilson.

The Northern Echo: VENUE: The Quinta da Logo resort will be hosting Jessica Hall and James Wilson this week

VENUE: The Quinta da Logo resort will be hosting Jessica Hall and James Wilson this week

Rose and Fitzpatrick are just two of the famous names to have triumphed in the event’s 30-year history, and Hall will be one of nine girls and Wilson one of 12 boys aiming to add their names to the winners’ list in the Algarve.

Hall, 18, a three handicapper, booked her place in the elite line-up after a gross 71 in the first round – four-under-par, and followed it with an incredible gross 67 in the second round – eight-under-par. She also finished third in the Irish Girls’ Championship earlier this year.

She has been in superb form winning the Critchley Salver at Sunningdale, setting four course records playing for England and qualifying for the Faldo Series final.

Wilson, 18, who plays off three booked his place in the elite line-up after qualifying by winning the Durham County Boys Championship earlier this year at his home Tyneside Golf Club course.

His rounds of 71 and 69 at Garesfield gave him a four-under par 140 total, seven shots better than his nearest rival Jack Ainscough from Hartlepool Golf Club.

Tyneside ace Wilson is a two-time county junior matchplay champion and last year added the senior title to his junior crown, becoming the first player in Tyneside’s 137-year history to win both the junior and senior club championships in the same year.

And his form this season is equally impressive as he finished third in the men’s county championship, firing an amateur record off the white tees of 65 on Close House’s Colt course and just missing out on a play-off by just a single shot.

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CATTERICK GC was proud to send a team of men and women to Trump Turnberry to compete in the National Golf Challenge competition, supporting the On Course Golf Foundation charity helping the recovery of injured and sick service personnel and veterans.

Both teams did well finishing in prize winning positions, with the men in fourth place and the ladies in third.

One injured ex-serviceman Tony Boyd, a member of Catterick Golf Club was also invited to the event.

Tony lost a leg following an accident while in service and, with the help of the On Course Foundation, now plays golf to a handicap of 18.

Both Tony and lady member Val Hay were two of the individual prize winners in the competition.