The final of this year’s Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs tournament will take place over Close House’s Colt Course in October.
The 20th Match Play Pairs final will see Newbiggin’s Lee and Mark Warren take on Brancepeth Castle’s Vaughan Raine and Shaun Elliott to earn a place in the region’s golfing history books. The winners will also receive a £600 prize, with the runners-up receiving a £100 prize.
Lee and Mark booked their place in the final with victory over Woodham’s Doug Cairns and Mel Surtees on the Filly Course at Close House. In a close match, Lee and Mark were 1down with three holes to play before Lee won the 16th with a nett birdie. He then hit a superb approach at 17 to setup a birdie two, which Doug followed with a two of his own. The Newbiggin pair closed out the match by winning the 18th as Doug and Mel couldn’t match Mark’s closing par.
In the second semi-final, Vaughan and Shaun led throughout with a 1up lead at the turn increasing to two at the 14th hole as Shaun made a nett eagle on the long par four. From there, the Brancepeth pair held their nerve before Vaughan closed out a 3&1 victory with par at the 17th.
