Rockliffe's Northern Golf Masters to make impact on Order of Merit

The Masters will be back at the County Durham course near Hurworth for the fourth year in a row and carries with it points for the Order of Merits as part of the Durham County Union scratch event schedule.

Joining the Order of Merit event list means the top 20 County Durham competitors at this final qualifying event of the season will receive between 125 and five ranking points to add to their final Order of Merit total for 2015.

Jonathan Ward, secretary of the Durham County Golf Union, said: “The Northern Golf Masters is a quality event so it made sense to add it to the list of 36-hole events in our Scratch Order of Merit. It’s another great opportunity for the county’s best amateur players.”

More than 40 category one golfers from across the North-East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria with a handicap of five or below will take part including Rockliffe’s very own Michael Coupland and James Lagan.

This year’s entrants will battle it out over 36 holes from across Teesside, County Durham, Yorkshire, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland and Cumbria. The golfers will represent their individual clubs.

Rockliffe Hall’s golf and estate director, Davy Cuthbertson, said: “The Northern Golf Masters has proven to be even more popular than previous years as it is now part of the Durham County Order of Merit.

“There’s everything to play for as it’s the final qualifying tournament of the season. It’s always a great event and golfers get a real flavour of what it’s like to play in a top competition on a world class course, played by the likes of Sam Torrance, Ian Woosnam and Mark James.”

Rockliffe Hall’s track is famed for being one of the best in Europe and was home to the European Tour English Senior Open in 2013 and 2014, attracting international names and Ryder Cup stars such as Ian Woosnam, Mark James and Sam Torrance.

The scratch tournament is for category one golfers and adopts the format of a professional tour event with first tee announcements, caddies and up-to-the-minute live scoring. Prizes are awarded for first, second and third place.

Last year’s winner was 19-year-old Sam Donald from Eaglescliffe Golf Club when he came back in three under par on the back nine to secure the victory by one shot. His final score was a three under par 69, but he will not be at the Hurworth course this time around to defend his crown.

Northern Golf Masters at Rockliffe Hall field:

Imran Aziz (George Washington)

Benjamin Bailey (Wynyard)

Lloyd Bond (Seaton Carew)

Josh Brookes (Arcot Hall)

Stuart Brown (Castle Eden)

Chris Brown (Castle Eden)

Brett Collingwood (Brancepeth)

Jonny Cossar (Houghton le Spring)

Martin Coup (Hexham)

Michael Coupland (Rockliffe)

Jake Davies (Darlington)

Kris Diamond (Seaton Carew)

Ryan Diuga (Kirbymoorside)

Ryan Dixon (Castle Eden)

Stewart Fell (Tynemouth)

Dean Findley (Durham City)

Daniel Fox (Brancepeth)

Nathan Graham (Castle Eden)

Andrew Graham (Bishop Auckland)

Phil Graham(Morpeth)

Daniel Hair (Wearside)

Thomas Harbord (Castle Eden)

James Harbord (Castle Eden)

Daniel Harrison (Ineos)

Ian Harvey (Wickham)

Michael Henson (Richmond)

Jake Heron (Houghton le Spring)

James Howard (Slaley Hall)

Sam Jackson (Ramside)

John Kennedy (Consett)

Paul King (Perriss)

James Lagan (Rockliffe Hall)

Ben Luckley (Tynemouth)

David Lupton (Eaglescliffe)

Phil McGovern (Tynemouth)

Matthew Moore (Ramside)

Gavin Nesbit (Boldon)

Paul Oliver (Tynemouth)

Nick Patterson (Brancepeth)

John Peart (Northumberland)

Adam Peart (Bishop Auckland)

Adam Ramsey(Maften Hall)

Stephen Ridley (Bishop Auckland)

Alex Robinson (Durham City)

Jamie Roulston (Tynemouth)

Matthew Stephenson (Ramside)

Carl Thompson (Boldon)

Rhys Thompson (Boldon)

Jamie Tranter (Wilton)

Jack Trewhitt (Castle Eden)

Cameron Wallace (Hartlepool)

Peter Waters (Darlington)

Mark Wharton (Newcastle)

Andrew Wilkinson (Wynyard)

Adam Wooler (Whitburn)

Craig Wren (Bishop Auckland)

Kris Wylam (Newcastle)

Conor Wylie (South Moor)