SEAHAM has a new hero this morning after David Patterson became the new Durham County Champion, writes PAUL FRASER.

For the first time in 43 years Seaham Harbour Golf Club boasts the county champion and it is only the sixth time in the competition's 99 year history that the winner has hailed from the course.

And Patterson, only the second post-war Seaham golfer to win the prestigious event by carding 288, did so in style as he out-shot Durham City's Andrew Bell by one shot on the latter's home turf.

It brought an end to a memorable week for Patterson, who qualified last weekend at Castle Eden with a score that was three shots inferior to his closest competitor yesterday.

Two shots further back in third was Billingham's Robert Moon, Woodham's Lee McCavanagh and Tyneside's Ricky Lee. They all ended up with a four round score of 291.

But yesterday was all about Seaham's first county champion since Jack Sanderson secured the title in 1962 at Wearside Golf Club when he finished with a score of 284.

And Patterson's heroics mean Brancepeth Castle's double winner Michael Curry failed in his attempts to become only the third golfer to win the Durham Championship three years in a row.