Cameron Ferguson, Jessica Dorritt and Adam Reay add their names to the Northern Golfer Champions of Champions trophies at Longhirst Hall
The 2025 Northern Golfer Champions of Champions were crowned at Longhirst Hall as men’s, women’s and junior club champions from across the region competed on the Dawson Course.
Consett & District’s Jessica Dorritt successfully defended the women’s title which she won for the first time in 2024, with a level-par round of 73. Jessica led the field by one shot as Bedlingtonshire’s Ami Ewan finished second for the second consecutive year, while South Moor’s Pauline Dobson finished third.
“It’s an amazing feeling to come back to a lovely golf course and defend the title,” said 17-year-old Jessica. “I played better golf than I did last year, which I’m so happy about as it shows the work I’ve put in with my coach, Simon Robinson, to improve my game over the last 12 months. I’ve really focused on short game this year and that paid off on the course as I got up and down from some bad situations – including on the first and second holes.
“My round improved from there and I birdied the par five sixth – pitching it up for a tap-in – before birdieing the eighth to make the turn at level-par.
“After a double-bogey on the 11th, I knew I had to find some birdies as the scoring was going to be lower than last year [when Jessica won with a two over-par 75]. I got the first one at the 14th after driving it to the edge of the green. I then made par at 15, before hitting a wedge to 8ft on the 16th and rolling in the putt for a two. From there, I just kept going and made the two pars I thought I needed on the last two holes.
“Winning one of the final events of the year is amazing and it inspires me to work hard this winter and keep improving. I’ll be working with Simon and the England Regional Squad, and I’m aiming to get better as I look to build on making cuts in 2025 and turn those into better finishes in 2026.
“The Champion of Champions is already in my diary for 2026, and I think I’m going to celebrate the same way as I did last time – with a McDonald’s on the way home!”
The men’s event was won by Chester-le-Street’s Adam Reay with a four under-par round of 69. Adam led the field in the event, which has been won by some of the region’s best golfers going back to 1968, as Dunstanburgh Castle’s Dan Halliday shot 71 and finished second on countback from Wearside’s Oscar Hancill.
“It’s great to be the Champion of Champions, I’m honestly a bit speechless,” said Adam after receiving the trophy. “I came into the event after four weeks off, during which I got married, so I didn’t know what to expect out there. If this is what married life does for your golf, I can recommend it!
“While I haven’t played loads, my golf has been steady away this season. There’s a lot going on with a busy job and four kids, but I make it work and there’s still some good golf in there – as I proved out there today.
“The 18-hole format suits me and I felt good out there. I learned a lot from being part of the tournament last season and I enjoyed the challenge of the Dawson Course again. A couple of birdies on two and three got things going quickly, and another at the par five sixth got me to three under-par through six. Holing a few good putts early, for those birdies and a couple of pars, settled me into the round and I just built it from there really.
“I birdied the par five 11th and I knew three or four under-par would be right in the mix. I bogeyed 16 then got it straight back at 17, which was a big moment in the round – that 10ft putt was a great one to make.
“I’ve won a couple of Durham scratch events and club championships, but this win is going right to the top of my list of achievements on the course. I signed up for the Champion of Champions as soon as I qualified for it in the summer, and I’m already looking forward to coming back to Longhirst in 2026 to try and defend the trophy.”
In the junior event, Cameron Ferguson from Heworth (York) made the trip north to claim the trophy with a two under-par round of 71. Durham City’s William Megginson was second with a level-par score, while Saltburn’s Owen Walker finished third.
“It feels good to be the Northern Golfer Champion of Champions,” said Cameron. “I played well in some tough conditions, and I knew anything around level-par would have a chance as I’ve played in this a few times now and it’s not easy out there.
“This was my third visit to the event and I think my experience really helped. I knew what to hit off each tee and the best line into the greens, which helped a lot. I’m also older and more experienced in tournaments now.
“It’s a good event and well worth travelling north for,” added Cameron. “Having started the season off a handicap of five, I’ll be right around scratch after today, which is great. I’m in a good place as I sign off my junior career and I’m looking forward to working hard with my coach, Simon Appleton at Heworth, this winter and hitting the ground running in 2026. Who knows what the future holds, but I’m looking into what I’d like to do next in golf and will come up with a plan in the coming months.
“Having done it a couple of times before, the long drive home will be a bit more fun this year!”
Northern Golfer edition Dean Bailey added: “A huge thank you to our hosts, Longhirst Hall, who once again presented the course in great condition and looked after the players brilliantly all day. We’re incredibly proud to call Longhirst Hall the home of the Champion of Champions and continue to build on our incredibly strong partnership.
“Our thanks also go the players and everyone who makes it possible for them to be part of this event. The planning for 2026 is already underway and we look forward to welcoming players from across the region to Longhirst next year.”
Longhirst Hall director of golf Graham Chambers added: “The 2025 Champion of Champions events once again showcased the best of northern golf, and we saw some fantastic shots throughout the day from players in all three events. Congratulations to Adam, Cameron and Jessica on their victories.
“These events continue to be a fantastic end to the golfing year, bringing together players from across the region, and we’re proud to continue our partnership with Northern Golfer to host them. We’re looking forward to doing so again in 2026.”
For full scores from this year’s events, login to Golf Genius using the GGID – UL8LQM
To view the on-course photographs from this year’s event, captured by Steve Chater, visit www.stevechaterphotography.co.uk
Details of the 2026 Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events – which bring together men’s, women’s and junior club champions from Northumberland, County Durham and Teesside along with selected clubs in the Borders, Cumbria and Yorkshire within Northern Golfer’s circulation area – will be announced in our Feb/Mar edition. For more information on the tournament, and the list of past champions, visit www.northerngolfer.co.uk/champions
