Martin McCririck lifted the Durham County Golf Union’s Matchplay Championship trophy for a third time following a 4&2 victory over Callum Moncur in the event’s final at Seaham.
South Shields-based Martin now holds the county’s strokeplay and matchplay titles – having won the 72-hole crown for the second time last summer at Blackwell Grange after overcoming Seaham’s Grant Dixon in a three-hole playoff.
Martin also got the better of Grant this year after another close battle in the matchplay semi-finals – edging the tie 1up. Meanwhile, Darlington-based Callum, 20, beat 16-year-old Roan Smith (Hobson) 4&3 in the second semi-final.
In the final, Martin went behind early on but was 2up after eight holes and extended his lead to 3up at the 11th. He then went 4up at the 14th and despite Callum winning the next, Martin’s experience shone through as he won the 16th to close out a 4&2 victory.
“It’s always a special feeling to win a county event and that doesn’t fade as you’re lucky to win a few,” said Martin. “I’ve very proud to have my name on the trophy three times now and be alongside so many top players from Durham on there.
“The matchplay is a tough event to come through, physically and mentally, with the six rounds over three days. The conditions were pretty hard at Seaham, particularly on the final day, and it was great to have John Kennedy on my bag that last day.
“Both Grant and Callum played some great golf and I’m delighted I got the job done in both those matches against two top players. I’m looking forward to trying to defend the strokeplay title later this year, and then hopefully I’ll have the honour of representing Durham more this summer as well.”
