Jack Ainscough won an early birthday present when he captured the Durham County Strokeplay Championship.
The Hartlepool youngster turned 20 at the end of July having won his first county crown in dominant style at Bishop Auckland Golf Club.
The win goes a long way to wiping out the memory of losing a three-hole playoff to Chris Handy at Wynyard Golf Club in 2017.
Ainscough posted 10 under-par again at Bishops this year, with rounds of 71, 71, 68 and 68 to finish four shots clear of South Shields’ Martin McCririck and Seaton Carew’s Cameron Wallace. Former English Mid Amateur Champion Richard Aisbitt finished in fourth place on five under-par.
“I’m glad to have won it. It’s been on the radar for a while,” said Jack. “I was confident at the start of the week and while I wasn’t really playing my best stuff, I managed to come through.”
Two years into a sports science degree at Colorado State University, former Dyke House College student Jack has set his sights on turning pro after he graduates.
“It’s been going pretty well. It’s great to play competitive golf every week against the best amateur players,” he added. “I’ll be heading back there at the end of August after playing in the English Amateur Championship and Welsh Amateur Championship.”
