BEAMISH PARK’S Matthew Watson and Bishop Auckland’s Jessica Hall won the Mizuno Race 2 Rockliffe Grand Final last weekend.

After five months of action, the curtain came down on the junior tour of the North-East in style and duo were left celebrating the last triumph of the year.

Hall (a two-handicapper) claimed the win in the girls section after a three hole play-off with Eaglescliffe’s Lily Downs (4). The pair posted 71s. The boys section saw Watson (8) edge ahead of Whickham’s Jonathan Rutherford (6) on count back after both carded nett 69s.

That brought an end to the Race 2 Rockliffe with Castle Eden’s R Dixon winning the mixed overall Order of Merit after successfully claiming 1050 points through the summer. That was 130 points ahead of Beamish Park’s A Mottershead.

The boys nett was won by Hartlepool’s S Lyons, who finished comfortably ahead of second-placed J brown from Billingham. In the girls nett category there was success from Darlington’s E Crang; finishing 50 points ahead of runner-up G Dickinson from Houghton-le-Spring.

The Race 2 Rockliffe is designed to encourage more junior golfers to support the junior opens and Durham County Junior Golf section events.

DURHAM claimed a credible second place at the English Boys County finals when they defeated Wiltshire to secure a spot behind eventual champions Essex.

While the Essex group cruised to a third successive title, Durham came from behind to win 6-3 on the last day. After trailing 2-1 from the morning foursomes, Durham found their feet on the afternoon by winning three singles.

South Moor’s Chris Handy, an England Under-16 international, won at the 17th when his opponent James Wiltshire conceded. Handy’s team-mates Aaron McManus and Sam Donald then defeated Charles Dunn and Jamie Amor respectively.

Jack Ainscough and Cameron Wallace then added to the Durham victories by defeating Rhys Edwards and Tom Law, with both making three birdies over the course of their matches. Wiltshire’s lone win arrived when Dom Patton overcame James Wilson 2&1.

Durham team manager Ken Joel said: “I have tremendous respect for my team for the way they battled back. We could have been 3-0 down this morning but that one win gave us a fighting chance. I’m over the moon to finish second to Essex.”

FORMER Eaglescliffe captain Brian Waller’s team of himself and sons Euan and Stuart stormed to victory with a 24 under par total at the club’s centenary pro-am.

Pro Martyn Stubbings, from Rockliffe Hall, proved the perfect calming influence as the Wallers took the prize by four clear shots.

“Team spirit saw us through,” said the captain. “There was some great golf from the young men and a pro who registered four birdies, which meant the captaincy was straightforward. Experience showed, aided by a birdie and a handful of pars at the right time.” The professional’s prize was won by Sharpley’s Simon Robinson, with an eight-under par 64.