Home-grown talent

string of outstanding golfers have honed their skills over Middlesbrough’s Brass Castle course.

And this year the North of England Youth Open is in association with Northern Golfer.

Walker Cup, Great Britain and Ireland and England players in the shape of Martin Thompson, Michael Skelton and Jonathan Lupton are at the pinnacle of a very impressive honours board.

Thompson won the British Amateur Championship in 1982, European Boys Strokeplay Champion Michael Skelton played in a winning Walker Cup side, while English and Welsh Strokeplay Champion Lupton was on a winning GB&I team, won more than 20 England caps and when he turned pro won the PGA Assistants title twice and was runner-up the only other time he played it.

Lupton remains the only Middlesbrough player to have won their prestigious North of England Youths Open – a victory Brass Castle members celebrated royally in 2000.

“For me, it was a massive win.” said Lupton, now managing director at Close House.

Lupton has also served as a coach for Northumbria University and one of his charges, Andrew Wilson, won the North of England Youths Open title in 2013.

“I came close a few times and it was big victory for me and the club members, who were always aware of the difficulties I faced with England Boys commitments and the clash with the championship which meant I couldn’t play.

“It meant the world to me when I won it. I won the Brabazon and played for England but winning the North of England Youths Open at my home club was really special. There are some great names on that trophy.

“It was also a great thing to play in front of your own members and I had some good chance to win it again. A lot of the people who did win it seemed to be always staying at my house and we had some great BBQs and parties. It’s a great tournament and I’m proud to have won it.”

It was a fitting victory for Lupton who had served his apprenticeship having first entered the tournament in 1994.

*Next month we’ll have a full preview of this year’s tournament