Jessica Dorritt, Evan Oliver and Angus Buchanan win the Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events at Longhirst Hall
Three new names have been added to the region’s golfing history books following victories for Jessica Dorritt, Evan Oliver and Angus Buchanan in the Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events at Longhirst Hall.
The season-ending events for ladies, men’s and junior club champions from across the region brought together winners from clubs in Northumberland, Durham and Teesside alongside several players from Cumbria, the Scottish Borders and North Yorkshire.
This year’s Champion of Champions – which once again saw all three tournaments take place simultaneously on the Dawson Course at Longhirst Hall – saw younger players come to the fore, with 16-year-olds Jessica and Evan winning the ladies’ and junior events respectively, while 20-year-old Angus added his name to the long list of players who have lifted the men’s trophy, which dates back to 1968.
In the ladies’ event, two-time Consett & District club champion Jessica shot a two over-par round of 75 to lead the field by three shots. Goswick’s Ami Ewan took home the second-place prize on countback from High Gosforth Park’s Candy Brown, who also had the best nett score in the ladies’ event.
“I’m very, very happy to be a Champion of Champions,” said Durham Sixth Form student Jessica. “I played really well throughout the whole round, and there were definitely a lot more highlights than my first time playing this event in 2023. I enjoyed the whole round on the Dawson Course and a little bit of experience really helped me out there – I played the course so differently this time around.
“I’m proud of how I built my score as it was quite tough on the front nine. Good course management was really important, and that’s something I’ve been working hard on. Some good short game shots were key too. From there, I played the back nine well, shooting one under-par, and my drive at the last was so important. I’d missed a couple of birdie putts and knew I needed a good finish. That drive put me in position to get up and down for birdie, which was fantastic.
“I’ve been working really hard with my coaches – Simon Robinson and Andy Paisley – all season and I’ve found some form late in the year. I’m proud to have won a big event and it’ll give me loads of confidence to take into a winter of hard work.
“I’m so happy to end the year with a big win and I can’t wait to come back and be the defending champion in 2025.”
In the junior event, Ramside Hall’s Evan Oliver – who only lifted his club championship trophy the weekend before the Champion of Champions – continued his form with an excellent two under-par round, including a two under-par front nine and a decisive birdie on the par four 18th.
“It feels really good to be the Champion of Champions and see my name on the trophy with so many good players,” said Durham Sixth Form student Evan. “I’ve had a good year on the course, definitely one of my best so far, and this win rounds out the year perfectly.
“I’ve worked hard, played in my first national events and shot under-par in tournaments for the first time – so I knew my game was in a good place coming into Longhirst. I hit it well off the tee all day and that was so important to scoring on the Dawson Course. I was never in any trouble and had some nice yardages into the greens throughout the round. I was in a good place at two under-par on the front nine and from there I just stayed consistent, hit good shots, and took the bogeys on the chin. Making birdie at the last was a great feeling and it proved to be really important.
“I’ll take the confidence from this one into some hard work over the winter, and I’m looking forward to more big events next season.”
Durham City’s William Megginson took home the second-place prize in the junior event along with the prize voucher for the nett winner, while Middlesbrough’s Kye Bouttell finished third.
Competing against a strong field of players from across the region, Slaley Hall champion Angus came out on top by the thinnest of margins in the men’s event. His three under-par score was matched by Ravensworth’s Jordan Bettis, with Angus taking home the trophy thanks to a superb three under-par back nine.
“It’s amazing to be the men’s Champion of Champions,” said Northumbria University student and Northumberland county player Angus. “It was great fun out on the course and being part of this event is always a great way to end the season. I’m so happy to have got this win – I’ve played some good golf throughout the season and shot some better scores than I had in the past couple of years. It’s fantastic to get over the line in this one and get a trophy to show how much work I’ve put in.
“The Champion of Champions is a sprint over just 18 holes, and that allowed me to go out and play aggressively on the Dawson Course. I got off to a bit of a slow start with a bogey on the par five first, but I think that freed me up to go and make some birdies. The back nine was where I made my score with birdies on 10, 11 and 13. It was great to get the closing birdie on 18 as well as I thought that one might be important at the end of the day.”
Jordan picked up the prize for second in the men’s event as Backworth’s Steve Anderton collected the third-place prize voucher on countback over Seaham’s Grant Dixon and Goswick’s Dan Bullen. The men’s nett was won by Ryton’s Greg Lee.
Having hosted the Champion of Champions events for a fourth consecutive year, Longhirst Hall’s director of golf Graham Chambers said: “Congratulations to our new champions – Jessica, Evan and Angus.
“Again, we were honoured to welcome some of the region’s best golfers, across all three events, to Longhirst. The Champion of Champions has become a perfect bookend to the season, and we’re delighted to have received more positive feedback on the course and hospitality from this year’s players. A massive thank you to our whole team for showcasing Longhirst at its best.
“We look forward to welcoming back the champions, and all the players who took part in the event, in the years to come.”
“The Northern Golfer team would like to thank Graham, Billy Kingsland, David Gilroy and the whole Longhirst team for hosting us so well again this season,” added Northern Golfer editor Dean Bailey. “Longhirst is a perfect place to host these tournaments, and the team make is so easy for us to bring together so many players in one day. We can’t thank the team – in the office and clubhouse, and out on the golf course – enough for making us, and all the players, so welcome.”
For full scores from this year’s event, visit www.golfgenius.com and login using the GGID – YL3W52.
For on-course pictures from the event, head over to www.stevechaterphotography.co.uk
The Northern Golfer Champion of Champions events will return in September 2025 and details will be published next summer.
