David Clark successfully defended the North East & North West PGA Order of Merit title with another brilliant year in the association’s professional tournaments and Pro Series events.
Morpeth Golf Club-based David led the season-long points race, which is sponsored by Titleist, with 1,391.75 points – finishing more than 440 points clear of runner-up Tim Dykes (Penrith) after 10 events.
Having won the Pro Series event at Close House in April – and picked up two T2 finishes and a T3 finish in the other events which make up the season-opening Pro Series – David didn’t finish outside the top five in this year’s professional tournaments.
He had a T3 finish in the Northumberland and Durham Open, which was won by amateur Harrison Sewell for a second consecutive year, before leading the field in the PGA Championship at Matfen Hall. David successfully defended the trophy he picked up in 2024 and won the event for the fourth time in his career – shooting rounds of 65 and 67 for a 12 under-par total of 132 and a six-shot win. Three players – Michael Skelton, who took home the Assistants’ Championship, Jack McCall and Craig Smith – finished in a tie for second place on six under-par.
David then finished fifth in the Heineken Dunstanburgh Classic – which was won by Bradley Rowntree after he overcame John Harrison on the second extra hole after both players shot two under-par rounds of 68. Craig Goodfellow and Michael finished one shot back in a tie for third place.
In the final strokeplay event of the year, NE/NW PGA chairman John went one better as he led the field in the Tour Championship at Brancepeth Castle. John, who is based at The Northumberland, picked up the win with a three under-par round of 67. Whitehaven’s Jonathan Graham finished one shot back in second place as three players – David, Michael and Simon Robinson – finished in a tie for third.
The top 16 players then faced off in the season-ending Matchplay Championship at Slaley Hall. With a commanding lead in the order of merit, David cemented his place at the top with a run to the semi-finals. The matchplay was won by Westerhope’s George Cowan for a second consecutive year after he beat last year’s runner-up Jonathan again in the final – closing out the match at the 16th for a 4&2 win.
