Morpeth’s Cameron Twynholm came through a week of matches with experienced opponents to become the youngest-ever winner of the Northumberland County Championship.
Cameron, 17, overcame James Conn in the event’s 36-hole final at Matfen Hall to follow in the footsteps of his father – and caddy – Sandy, who won the event 20 years ago in 2004.
In the final, James – who was also runner-up in 2022 – took an early lead with birdies on the first and third holes before Cameron fought back and won the next four holes – three of those with birdies. At lunch, Cameron held a 2up lead and then won the 20th, 22nd and 24th holes to move to 5up. His lead was cut to three in the middle of the second round, but a win at the 32nd hole secured a 5&4 victory.
Cameron reached the final having qualified in a tie for 11th place after two rounds of strokeplay – as Slaley Hall’s Angus Buchanan won the Renwick Medal as the leading qualifier. He then overcame three-time winner and defending champion Andrew Minnikin, two-time winner Mark Wharton, and 2024 county event winner Cameron Thoburn to reach the final.
