KILLINGWORTH junior golfer Amy Buchan has secured victory at the national final of the American Golf Junior Championships, taking the title in the Girls Handicap category with a fantastic score of 39 points playing off a handicap of 11.

Amy, who lives in Killingworth and is a member at Close House Golf Club and attends Ryton’s Thorp Academy, played the round of her life to take the title by one point from North London’s Jessica Brown at Gainsborough Golf Club, home to tournament sponsor PING.

Amy, 14, was delighted with her winning round, commenting:“I played good, it was really fun. I had a chip in on the fourth that set me up for the rest of the round. I try and play as many competitions as I can but this is bigger and more competitive than I’m used to.

“It’s really good. I don’t even know if the trophy’s going to fit anywhere it’s so big!”

The Junior Championship, which will be shown on Sky Sports in October, is a vital part of American Golf’s drive to get more people out playing golf more often.

DURHAM County Association has said goodbye to seven girls who have headed off to the United States.

Jessica Hall, of Bishop Auckland, the current County Ladies’ Champion & 2018 Birkdale Ladies Scratch Champion, is in Florida where she will study at Fresna State University. Another Bishop Auckland player, Briony Bayles, a former County Champion is studying at Kansas State University.

Amy Sutheran and Zara Alexander, who both play their golf at The Wynyard Club, are at Colorado State University and Zara Thomas University respectively. Georgia joins her sister Laura who is currently in her third year of studies.

Two other members of The Wynyard Club - Shannon O’Dwyer, University of Texas, and Kitana Hollins, Murray State College, Oklahoma - have resumed studies.

They have represented Durham on Junior and Senior County Teams and continue to support the Juniors by acting as mentors and role-models to new players. The Union said: “They have been a credit to the county.”

IT wasn’t to be for the City of Newcastle team looking to defend their English Champion club title.

The team from Castle Royle Golf Club, near Reading, are heading to Europe after winning at Huddersfield. Internationals David Langley, Harrison Arnold and team-mate Tim Shin won the title by eight shots.

They finished on six-over for a comfortable win over last year’s champions, City of Newcastle’s Phil Ridden, Alex Dixon and Zak Laws.

That trio went on to take third place in the European Men’s Club Trophy last time – one of the best ever results by an English club.