NOT content with securing the Durham County Championship trophy, Seaton Carew's Hugh Hamilton has turned his attentions to qualifying for The Open.

Hamilton was crowned County champion at Eaglescliffe on Sunday after his four round aggregate 291, three over par, ensured he finished ahead of second-placed Julian Wynn, who was playing on his home patch.

Now Hamilton, a professional for a decade until reclaiming amateur status in 2000, would love to cap his super success by clinching a place in the 133rd Open on July 15.

But if the 34-year-old is to fulfil his dream of playing at Royal Troon his first hurdle will be the regional qualifiers on July 5. "It gets harder and harder to qualify the older you get," said Hamilton.

"It looks like I will be trying to qualify at Silloth on Solway because I don't like the other option I have of playing at the Alwoodley course.

"I don't really hold much hope of getting there but I will be trying. Just to try to qualify for The Open is a great occasion and it would be fantastic to make it."

Hamilton became the second Seaton Carew golfer in three years to become County champion, following in the footsteps of good friend James Harper in 2002.

And the Durham No 1 believes the club's resurgence on the trophy trail is not before time. "I've played at Seaton for over 20 years and the reason for that is that I don't think there is a better course around," said Hamilton, who had to recover from double bogeys at the first hole in both his two Sunday rounds.

"We had a bit of a lull at Seaton for a few years before James won it but I am pleased I have now kept up the good recent record. The last person to win from Seaton before James was John Ellwood (in 1988).

"But things are going well these days. We have a great team spirit at Seaton and that was even maintained when James beat me in the Match Play Championship."

Hamilton, who held a five shot overnight lead going into Sunday's final two rounds, will now be venturing to the National Final at Woodhall Spa later in the season.

Richard Aisbitt of Brancepeth Castle, the 2003 County champion, finished eighth on 298 at Eaglescliffe.

* The winners of the Lombard Trophy North-East regional final will be attempting to claim similar success at Seaton Carew today.

Ramside Hall pro Robert Lister will team up again with two-handicap amateur Steven Dance, who both claimed a creditable seventh place in the 36-hole Grand Final in the Algarve.

Today the Durham pair battle with 45 other pairings from the North-East and among them is former winner Steve Gromett, from Oulton Park, and amateur partner Allan Cooper.

Another former winner, Doug Brolls from Wearside, will line up with painter and decorator, Ian Graham. Brolls claimed Grand Final honours in 1998 in the company of the club's greenkeeper Barry Walker.

Seaton Carew duo Mark Rogers and Eddie I'Anson are looking for glory on their own greens and all the tee times are as follows:

8.00 Mark Rogers (Seaton Carew), Christopher Mounter (Wynyard); 8.10 Graham Laidlaw (Hartlepool), Don Jones (Middlesbrough); 8.20 Mike Ure (Billingham), David Skiffington (Bishop Auckland); 8.30 David Howdon (Brancepeth Castle), Kevin Gow (Houghton-le-Spring); 8.40 Ralph Givens (Stressholme), Joanne Furby (Blackwell Grange); 8.50 Doug Brolls (Wearside), Graeme Bell (Eaglescliffe); 9.00 David Mather (Burgham Park), Mark Stancer (Slaley Hall); 9.10 John Crawford (Prudhoe), David Patterson (Whitburn); 9.30 Gary Brown (Ganton), Alan Robson-Crosby (Ponteland); 9.40 Craig Dilley (Darlington), Malcolm Gunn (Tyneside); 9.50 Gary Shipley (Whitley Bay), Brian Rumney (Parklands); 10.00 Robert Lister (Ramside), Stephen Gromett (Oulton Park); 10.10 Mike Ingham (Cleckheaton), Benjamin Hill (Willesey Park); 10.20 Darren Steels (Breadsall Priory), Tony Cuppello (Brookdale); 10.30 David Bagg (City of Wakefield), Christopher Cole (Beamsih Park); 10.50 David Race (Garesfield), Martin Brown (Fulford); 11.00 John Harrison (Matfen Hall), David Fletcher (Chester-le-Street); 11.10 Jack Ord (Hobson Municipal), Paul Jackson (Richmond); 11.20 Marcus Webb (Bedlingtonshire), Andrew Hoyles (The York); 11.30 Andrew Hall (Whickham), Tony Mason (Whitby); 11.40 Peter Kelly (Woodham), Stephen Burdett (Heworth); 11.50 John McKenna (Tynemouth), Steve McKenna (City of Newcastle).

* Harrogate succumbed to a very strong Sheffield side in their first Yorkshire Inter-District Union fixture of the season with the latter claiming a comfortable 25-11 win.

Results: Foursomes (Harrogate names first) - K Ward & R Brewin v S Tarplett & S Needham 3&2, D Dunn & C Pierson 1up v M Hayward & A Halifax, C Hughes & T Moorhouse v A Hodkinson & J Mason 7&6, T Hesketh & H Flather v M Haddock & M Evens 1up, S Whitwam & M Padgett v M Hemp stock & A Cutts 2&1, W Crick 7 C Simpkin 1up v D Needham & R Bee. Total: Harrogate 4 Sheffield 8. Singles - R Brewin v M Hayward 1up, K Ward v S Needham 1up, D Dunn conceded v S Tarplett, C Hughes v J Mason 3&2, T Moorhouse a/s v M Haddock, C Pierson v M Evens 1up, S Whitworth 2&! V A Halifax, T Hesketh v R Bee 2up, M Padgett a/s v D Needham, H Flather a/s v A Hodkinson, C Simpkin 2&1 v A Cutts, W Crick v M Hempstock 3&2. Total: Harrogate 7 Sheffield 17. Result: Harrogate 11 Sheffield 25

* See Friday's Local Heroes for a chance to win a chance to be a caddie at the De Vere Northumberland Seniors Classic later this month.

Published: 26/05/2004