Harrison Sewell led a field of the region’s best professionals and amateurs as he successfully defended the Northumberland & Durham Open title at The Northumberland.
Nineteen-year-old Harrison, who became the first amateur to win the event since Chris Paisley in 2009 last season, was tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside fellow amateur Angus Buchanan after both players shot rounds of 65 and 68 to finish on 11 under-par.
In a playoff for the trophy, which was first presented in 1950, Harrison drove the green at the par four first hole and two-putted for birdie to win.
Meanwhile, six players finished in a tie for third place on six under-par – professionals Michael Nesbit, David Clark, Gordon Cattrell and Tim Dykes and amateurs Andrew Minnikin and Adam Rochester.
“It’s amazing to have my name on the trophy twice,” said Harrison. “Having come home from the US for the summer, this is one I wanted to win – especially with it taking place at my home club.
“I played really well in the first round, then kept it going in the afternoon. Having had a few hours to think about it, and had a Big Mac, I hit the perfect tee shot in the playoff – a driver to 25ft – and made the birdie to get the win.
“I’m playing well this summer off the back of a good college season, and I’m looking forward to heading to a new college [Georgia Southern University] when I head back to the US in August.”
