YORKSHIREMAN Ben Firth emerged as the winner of the Seaton Salver after a day of battling against the woeful conditions on a links course which provides a tough enough test at the best of times.

The Moortown golfer was one of the last golfers off the 18th green after 36 holes of driving in to strong winds by the North Sea coast to edge Seaton Carew’s very own Scott Phillips in to second spot.

Firth’s 81 and 83 was three shots better than Phillips’ 86 and 81 to clinch one of the most prestigious titles played on the Durham Golf Union circuit.

Boldon’s Gavin Nesbit was third after posting an 85 and 82, with Seaton’s Ian Hendry a place further back after shooting consecutive 84s.

Eaglescliffe’s Sam Donald was fifth with his 88 and 81 and Bradley Park’s Ed Battye was a place further back in sixth after shooting 86-83.

WHICKHAM Golf Club has secured a share of £16.5m of National Lottery funding from Sport England that will help improve facilities.

The Tyneside course has been awarded £75,000 to create a Golf Academy, comprising of a four bay driving range with an integral teaching suite. The facility will also include a short game practice area and designed to get more people in to golf.

Club president, Les Britton, said: “We are delighted to have secured this investment, which means we can upgrade the quality of our practice facilities to match the quality of our course.

“It is the cornerstone of our strategy to have an outstanding club with the capability to promote excellence in our sport. The ability to encourage more people to play a sport that endures through junior and senior years. It is indeed a tribute to the 2012 Olympics’ legacy.”

The announcement comes as Sport England revealed it has reached a major funding milestone – having invested £5bn in grassroots sport in the last 20 years.

CONSETT Golf Club will host the second annual ‘Mackem Challenge’ on Sunday, June 21 at 11am.

The event sees a team made up of many of Sunderland’s victorious 1973 FA Cup winning team take on a 12-man team from Consett compete for the TSL Mackem Challenge Trophy.