Year Review – The best of 2025

We look back at the biggest stories of 2025 – from international wins to national titles, and lots more

The region’s top golfers shone on the national and international stages throughout 2025 – with success across the amateur and professional games at every level. Here’s the Northern Golfer team’s pick of the biggest stories of the golfing year…

January

The year got underway with the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association Turf Management Exhibition in Harrogate, while golf’s biggest brands unveiled their 2025 equipment launches.

Meanwhile, Jess Baker became the attached ladies tour professional at Close House, and Tyrrell Hatton won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

February

We added Yorkshire Golfer to our stable of titles – growing our reach to cover clubs and golfers from the Scottish border to Sheffield and beyond.

The region’s top courses featured in the latest National Club Golfer Top 100s England list with Ganton (10th), Alwoodley (14th), Silloth on Solway (23rd), Moortown (37th), Seaton Carew (41st), Goswick (43rd), Fulford (79th), Seascale (80th), Lindrick (86th) and Dunstanburgh Castle (91st) all featuring.

England won the Nations Cup as part of the 95th Portuguese Amateur Championship with Yorkshiremen Ben Brown (Romanby) and Tom Osborne (Lindrick) in the team.

March

Celebrations began as part of the Yorkshire Ladies County Golf Association’s 125th anniversary; while the North East & North West PGA season got underway with Alastair Forsyth winning the Turkey pro am, and James Maw and Graeme Bell picking up Pro Series wins.

The Durham County Golf Union, and the wider golf community, mourned the loss of Durham county president Gerry Johnson – a long-standing member of Bishop Auckland and a member of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews as well as the immediate past captain of Ganton.

April

Rory McIlroy completed the career grand slam with an emotional win at The Masters.

Brenda Parker received the Lifetime Service Award at the 2025 England Golf Awards in recognition of her remarkable commitment to golf in Yorkshire for more than three decades.

England’s U16 boys’ and girls’ team – featuring Teesside’s Alex Boyes and Tom Hartshorne – stormed to a 16-8 win in their international match against Spain at Seaton Carew, and the men’s and women’s team won 19.5-10.5 in Spain with Longhirst Hall’s Charlotte Naughton in the side.

Consett & District’s Mark Bonser and John Kennedy lifted the Northumberland & Durham Inter-County Foursomes trophy at Whitburn – starting a year of success for John and the club.

Garrick Porteous completed a six-shot victory in the Emirates PGA Tour Championship at Al Zorah Golf and Yacht Club. On the NE/NW PGA circuit, James Wilson won the Kitwave Ayrshire Spring Pro Am and David Clark won the Pro Series event at Close House.

The best male professionals and amateurs from across Yorkshire faced off in The Match at Ganton – and Mao Saigo won The Chevron in Texas.

May

Charlotte Naughton became the first English winner of the German Girls’ International Amateur Championship.

Closer to home – Rebecca Ferguson (Tynemouth) won the Northumberland ladies’ county championship at Bedlingtonshire, Katie Stephens (Middlesbrough) won the 120th Yorkshire ladies’ championship at Huddersfield, and Abby Roper (Seascale) lifted the Cumbria ladies’ championship trophy for the second time at Silloth on Solway.

In men’s county events – Martin McCririck (South Shields) won the Durham Matchplay Championship for a third time at Seaham, and Junior Dobson (Hexham) topped the leaderboard in the Northumberland union’s North and South Trophy at Whitley Bay. Meanwhile, Moortown’s Theo McCormick led the field in the Yorkshire Boys’ Amateur at Sandburn Hall.

On the NE/NW PGA circuit, Jonathan Graham and Michael Skelton picked up Pro Series wins.

Antonia Emmerson (The Northumberland) topped the leaderboard in the first event of the Bronte Law Junior Series at Luffenham Heath, and Hexham’s Susan Lam won the Northumberland Veteran Ladies’ championship.

Richard Aisbitt won the York Rose Bowl and the Bell Trophy at Heysham, while Rob Henderson (Matfen Hall) topped the individual leaderboard in the Hadrian League’s Field Day at Hexham.

Ramside Hall-based Jack Trewhitt led the field in the opening event of the 2020protour’s summer season at Woolley Park.

On tour – Scottie Scheffler won the US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, and Maja Stark won the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills.

June

John Kennedy was crowned Scottish Senior Men’s Open champion at Montrose – while Northumberland’s women’s team went unbeaten at County Match Week at Hessle and booked their place in the English Women’s County Finals.

Tom Hartshorne rose to the top of the European U16 rankings, and Charlotte Naughton lifted the Lawson Trophy (U18s) as she finished second in the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews for a second consecutive year.

Bishop Auckland’s Stuart Skaife won the men’s nett title at the English Open for Golfers with a Disability at Ramside Hall – as Brad Smith (Royal Cromer) took home the overall title.

Harrison Sewell (The Northumberland) led a field of the region’s best professionals and amateurs as he successfully defended the Northumberland & Durham Open title at his home club.

Consett & District’s Jessica Dorritt won the Durham ladies’ championship for the first time, while Amy Staveley (Ganton) etched her name into the history books as the first winner of the North England Women’s Amateur Championship hosted by Seaton Carew and Goswick. Meanwhile at Cleveland, Mark Marshall won the One-Arm World Championship.

In Northumberland, Phil Ridden (City of Newcastle) won the County Strokeplay Championship at Westerhope, Morpeth’s Sandy Twynholm won the seniors’ strokeplay title, and Backworth’s Steve Anderton successfully defended the seniors’ matchplay title. Meanwhile, county captain Andrew Minnikin (City of Newcastle) set a new appearance record as he earned his 132nd cap for his county.

England Golf past president Chris Pascall (Hartlepool) was appointed an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List for services to golf. In Japan, England’s girls’ team – featuring Charlotte Naughton – finished fifth at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup.

Wearside’s Millie Hixon and Evan Oliver were crowned Durham girls’ and boys’ champions respectively at Roseberry Grange; Carlisle’s Rory Thompson battled wind and rain to win the Cumbria Strokeplay Championship at his home club; and The Northumberland’s Harrison Sewell, Andrew Griffiths and Duncan Ross topped the leaderboard in the Northumberland Teams Championship at Hexham as Longhirst won the Junior Teams Championship at Stocksfield. At Seaton Carew, Dominic Moon won the Seaton Salver.

On tour – JJ Spaun won the US Open at Oakmont while Minjee Lee won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at PGA Frisco.

July

John Kennedy won The R&A Senior Amateur at Walton Heath – leading the field by seven shots on his debut in the event. The win added to his triumph in the Durham Seniors’ Championship at Ryton as well as his Inter-County Foursomes and Scottish Open titles earlier in the season.

On tour – Dan Brown (Romanby) secured an emotional two-shot victory in the BMW International Open at Golfclub München Eichenried; Chris Gotterup won the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance; Scottie Scheffler won The Open Championship at Royal Portrush; Grace Kim won The Amundi Evian Championship in France; and Miyu Yamashita won the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

James Glenn lifted the Durham Strokeplay Championship trophy for the second time at Brancepeth Castle as Ben Brown (Backworth and Bedlingtonshire) won the Northumberland County Championship for the first time at Arcot Hall.

Rhys Thompson returned to the winner’s circle on the Tartan Pro Tour at the Downfield Masters presented by Piper Sandler. On the NE/NW PGA circuit, David Clark won the PGA Championship for the fourth time at Matfen Hall as Michael Skelton won the Assistants’ title.

Consett & District won the Durham Team Championship with John Kennedy, Mark Bonser and Luke Bonser in the team.

Sian Evans triumphed in the Women’s PGA Professional Championship at Goswick as Hazel MacGarvie won the Assistants’ Championship; Hampshire’s Stuart Archibald secured his second Logan Trophy title at Rockliffe Hall; and Cheshire completed an emphatic victory in the Boys’ Qualifying Championship (AKA The Little Six) at Ponteland.

August

Charlotte Naughton finished runner-up in The R&A Girls’ Amateur Championship at Conwy and represented England as they won the Girls’ & Boys’ Home Internationals for a fifth consecutive year. The men’s and women’s team also won their Home Internationals event at Woodhall Spa.

Max Berrisford (Ilkley) lifted the Yorkshire Amateur Championship trophy for the first time at Cleveland – while Ganton professional Gary Brown and his amateur partner, Graham Cook, won the PGA Super 60s at Cardrona.

Lancashire won the Northern Counties Golf Union’s Men’s County Qualifying (AKA The Big Six) at Bishop Auckland as Durham finished second.

Phil Ridden topped the leaderboard in the Northumberland union’s Fenwick-Smith Trophy at Blyth, while Oscar Tollit travelled north from Brighton to win the North of England Under 14 Strokeplay at South Moor.

Will Marshall (Heworth) and Andrew Wilson (Rockliffe Hall) shared top spot on the 2020protour at Wakefield.

In men’s league golf – Warkworth completed the North Northumberland Golf League and Glendale Trophy double; Brancepeth Castle won the North Durham league and the Knockout Trophy; Slaley Hall got their hands back on the Hadrian League trophy; Bishop Auckland lifted the Teesside & District league trophy; and City of Newcastle extended their record success in the Newcastle & District Golf League as they lifted the trophy for an 11th time. Meanwhile, Rothbury’s men’s team lifted the Davison Cup for the first time since 1999, and Morpeth’s junior team successfully defended the Northumberland Junior Golf League trophy.

In the season-long races for the Durham union’s Clark Cup and Junior Clark Cup – Castle Eden won the men’s title as Beamish Park’s youngsters won the junior title.

Heworth’s Janet and Bryan Ross won the Durham Mixed Foursomes at Beamish Park, and Whitburn duo Henry Smith and Archie Mallett lifted the Durham Junior Foursomes trophy at Brancepeth Castle.

At City of Newcastle, Bishop’s Stortford’s team won the English Women’s Champion Club event as the club’s ladies’ section celebrated its centenary.
On the PGA Tour – Tommy Fleetwood won the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup.

September

Charlotte Naughton shone on the international stage as she won the individual title at the World Junior Girls Championship in Canada. She then went on to represent Team Europe in the 13th Junior Ryder Cup in New York the following week.

On the national stage – Durham county champion James Glenn won the Men’s County Champion of Champions trophy at Woodhall Spa as Northumberland’s Sandy Twynholm won the seniors’ event at Woodhall on the same weekend.

The 2025 Northern Golfer Champions of Champions were crowned at Longhirst Hall as Chester-le-Street’s Adam Reay won the men’s event, Consett & District’s Jessica Dorritt successfully defended the women’s title, and Heworth (York)-based Cameron Ferguson made the trip north to claim the junior trophy.

Over in the US – Harrison Sewell got his Georgia Southern college career off to a winning start as he led the field in the Golfweek Fall Challenge at True Blue Club in South Carolina, while Northumberland county champion Ben Brown won the Central Wyoming College Fall ’25 event at Riverton Country Club.

Yorkshire won the men’s and boys’ Northern Counties league titles following undefeated seasons. Martin McCririck secured the Durham men’s Order of Merit title, and Bishop Auckland’s men’s team earned the title of best club team in the North East by winning the Dixon Cup at Whitburn.

On the NE/NW PGA circuit – John Harrison led the field in the Tour Championship at Brancepeth Castle, Bradley Rowntree topped the leaderboard in the Heineken Dunstanburgh Classic, and George Cowan successfully defended the Matchplay Championship at Slaley Hall – as David Clark was crowned Titleist Order of Merit champion.

Newcastle United Golf Club’s Michael Burrow won the Scottish Mid-Amateur at Southerness, and Richard Aisbitt won the Bishop Auckland Bowl for a record-breaking seventh time.

Cheshire’s senior men’s team won Northern Counties Seniors’ Qualifying at Wilmslow, Will Marshall won the final 2020protour event of the season at Doncaster, and John Kennedy collected the England and Durham seniors’ order of merit titles.

On tour – Alex Noren won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth before Team Europe won The Ryder Cup on US soil after a dramatic final day at Bethpage.

October

Roseberry Grange-based Bob Ellison and John Jamfrey lifted the Northern Golfer Match Play Pairs trophy at George Washington.

Lucas Martin (Rotherham) successfully defended the North of England Amateur title at Seaton Carew, while Slaley Hall’s John Lee and Jim Bruce lifted the Daily Mail Foursomes trophy at St Pierre Country Club.

England’s under-16s stormed to a 14-4 victory in their annual international match with Ireland at Ballybunion – with Alex Boyes and Tom Hartshorne in the team – as Whickham celebrated double success in the first season of the Durham Seniors Golf League and Blackwell Grange won the Durham Junior League title.

Barnard Castle-based Ray Pipe and John Matthews won the National Club Golfer Top 100s Matchplay, and Calum Scarrott (Chesterfield) won the PING Junior Masters.

November

On tour – Aaron Rai won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and Matt Fitzpatrick triumphed in the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates as Rory McIlroy won the Race to Dubai. Meanwhile, Jeeno Thitikul won the CME Group Tour Championship.