The winning clubs from each of the North East’s five men’s leagues will compete for the Dixon Cup at Longhirst Hall in September after topping their respective season-long races.
Newcastle United earned their place with a first Newcastle & District Golf League title in 25 years. With the league split into two divisions for the first time, United topped division one with 123 points from 14 matches. Led by the club’s first female club captain, Jen Anderson, United finished 19 points clear of Northumberland as City of Newcastle completed the top three. With promotion and relegation introduced for the first time, Westerhope topped division two and will move up with Blyth and Morpeth as Whitley Bay, Ponteland and Tyneside drop into division two.
In the Hadrian League, Close House – who lost out on the title to Stocksfield by a single point in 2021 – managed to cling on for victory on the final night. Needing just three points, they visited second placed Slaley Hall and while losing 9-3, finished a single point ahead of Slaley.
Bamburgh Castle will be heading to Longhirst having come out on top in the North Northumberland League. With seven teams able to win the title on the final night of the season, Bamburgh beat Magdalene Fields 10-2 to finish the year with 93 points. Goswick finished second and Warkworth claimed third place, both teams amassing 88 points. In the members’ league, which is played with handicaps, Alnwick Castle topped the table as Rothbury finished in second place.
In the North Durham League, Durham City won division one with a week to spare, topping the table with 11 wins in 14 games and 23 points as Brancepeth Castle finished second. Boldon topped division two and earned promotion alongside Crook, while George Washington finished top of the pile in division three and will move up next season alongside South Moor.
In the Teesside & District League, Eaglescliffe produced a dominant performance to win the first division, finishing 18 points clear of Bishop Auckland. In division two, Hunley Hall earned promotion alongside Teesside, while Hartlepool won division three and promotion alongside Catterick.
The Dixon Cup, which sees teams of seven (six scores to count) from each of the league-winning clubs compete over 18 holes, will take place at Longhirst Hall on September 11.
