Juniors crown new Skipp-er

One of the most successful Durham juniors in recent years will captain Durham County Boys this season.

Eaglescliffe Golf Club-based Will Skipp, 17, hopes to lead Durham to success in the Northern Counties Championship, and the Northern Federation League and Championship, which they won last year with Skipp winning the individual title. The team finished runners-up in the league competition last term.

While the team was disappointed at the Northern Counties, AKA the Little Six, last year they will be looking to replicate their successes in 2014 and 2015 when the event is held at Rockliffe Hall on July 3.

“It would be nice to win the Little Six on home territory and also win the Northern Federation League and retain the championship,” said Will, who currently holds a handicap of plus-one.

Will made his full county debut last season and is a member of the men’s county squad. He has also won the County Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 Boys titles in successive years.

A student at Hartlepool’s Dyke House College, he hopes to earn a golf scholarship in the US in the future. “I definitely have that in mind,” he added, “but I need to do well in my studies to achieve it.”

Meanwhile, the county union has reorganised its junior coaching programme into three tiers – Elite, Performance and Development – and will be utilising the skills and experience of European Tour player Graeme Storm and new county captain Simon Robinson during coaching sessions at Wynyard Golf Club this season.