A TEAM from Bishop Auckland Golf Club has been hailed as one of the best in the country by qualifying for a competition final in Spain.

The club rounded off one of its most successful seasons by reaching the last four of the Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic.

Six players are travelling to the Olivia Nova Beach and Golf Resort, near Valencia, for the climax of the competition next month. The contest is the biggest club team knockout in the world with more than 2,000 entries in the original draw.

Jamie Birkbeck, Graham Milne and David Whales, all from Bishop Auckland, and Nigel Dodd, from Hunwick, came through quarter finals at the Marriott Worsley Park, in Manchester, on Monday.

Reserves Wayne Hewitt and Gerald Johnson, who doubles as team manager, will also make the trip along with club captain Allan Milne, chairman John Brassell and a team of supporters.

The club were this year's undefeated champions of the Teesside and District Union of Golf Clubs League and went on to win the Dixon Cup for the first time.

Mr Milne said the latest win had created excitement at the club. He said: "It is a tremendous achievement.

"This season has probably been the most successful we have ever had and the players have been given wonderful support.

"The team is made up of people who have come through the club as juniors."