Gavin Nesbit lifted the Durham County Golf Union’s County Championship trophy for the first time following three days of superb golf at Seaton Carew.
Boldon-based Gavin led the field with rounds of 67, 68, 72 and 70 giving him a seven under-par total of 277. He finished three shots clear of Hartlepool’s Steven Wilson, while Jack Burton (Wynyard) and Richard Aisbitt (Brancepeth Castle) finished two shots further back.
“I’m really proud to be county champion,” said 47-year-old Gavin, who won the county matchplay title in 2012.
“Having played my first county championship back in 2001, it’s a great feeling to pick this one up 25 years later. I’ve finished second a couple of times and was desperate to win it.
“I was quite confident going in, and I knew Seaton was a good venue for me having won the Seaton Salver in 2021 and qualified for the matchplay in the English Amateur there in 2024,” added Gavin, who also credited his work with strength and conditioning coach Stuart Parnaby, along with swing work last summer with Gary Brown.
“While Seaton can be a huge challenge in the wind, we had three gorgeous days for the event and it was a real pleasure to play such a great course in those conditions.
“The format [18 holes on days one and two and 36 holes on day three] makes it a little easier, though it’s still a lot of golf and there was certainly a little fatigue on Sunday afternoon.
“The hardest part of the week was probably leading after the first round, then being tied for the lead after Saturday, having been out early both days. Those were long afternoons and evenings, and it was hard to clear my mind, so I was happy to get going on Sunday.
“It’s a long event and each day brought good and bad moments. I finished the first round with a three-putt and my first bogey of the day, which was disappointing, but the score was a good one.
“I then played really well on day two after starting with another three-putt. It wasn’t easy, but I found my flow and got down to finding fairways and greens, and I holed a few chances.
“On Sunday, I had a bit of a poor finish to the third round but holed a long putt for birdie on 18. I then started the final round with another birdie, having teed off tied with Steven, and that settled me into it.
“Steven played so well and I knew I had to keep up with him. I managed to pull ahead late and had a three-shot lead with three to play. That gave me time to think about it, and that’s when the pressure built having spent so long locked in a really close battle.
“Going from that fight to wanting to get over the line was tough, and I just focused on the six shots I had left to hit. I’m proud to have done that and made three great pars to close it out.
“Finding the 18th green in two with the lead, I was able to enjoy the final moments. It hit home as I stood over a short one on the last, and I’m absolutely delighted to have got it done and to see my name alongside the greats of Durham golf and so many friends on the trophy.”
Gavin will go on to represent Durham in the Men’s County Champion of Champions at Woodhall Spa on September 12-13.
For the full results click here.
*This story was updated on August 4 following the publication of the Aug/Sept edition of Northern Golfer.
