THE sensational form of Rob Dinwiddie has given him back-to-back Challenge Tour titles, but it is securing a place on next season's main Tour that has delighted the man from Barnard Castle the most.

Dinwiddie followed up last week's heroics at the Scottish Challenge by coasting to a second successive victory at the prestigious Rolex Trophy in Switzerland on Sunday.

Victory netted him around £11,000 and has taken him up to within a few thousand of the 75,000 euros target he feels is required to finish in the top ten of the rankings.

Given that he has already broken through the 70,000 euros barrier, Dinwiddie has almost certainly secured a place in the top 20 to guarantee a debut season on the European Tour next time around.

That has been his intention since stepping up to the professional game less than a year ago and the quick progress he has made indicates the talent he has at his disposal.

Dinwiddie - who is likely to join Hartlepool's Graeme Storm, North Yorkshire's Simon Dyson and Ashington's Kenneth Ferrie on the main tour - has always been confident in his ability but the last couple of weeks have vindicated his decision to leave a successful amateur career behind him.

And the former Welsh and Scottish amateur champion said: "It's just the latest step for me.

"It's all about taking steps towards where you want to be and I want to be on the European Tour.

"It looks like I will be on there now but I can't afford to think like that. I want to finish as high up the rankings as I can and claim a place in the top ten."

Given that Sunday's success in Geneva, where he ended 18 under for his four rounds, Dinwiddie's hopes are looking strong.

Only Frenchman Michael LorenzoVera has earned more during the season and Dinwiddie has joined Ross McGowan, Joost Luiten and Edoardo Molinari in winning two events on the 2007 Challenge Tour.

The 24-year-old, still marvelling in his glory in Switzerland, has decided to miss this week's Postbank Challenge in Germany and hopes to be invited to play at the Johnnie Walker Classic at Gleneagles on August 30.

Dinwiddie was steady over the four days in Switzerland but it was the final round, 64, which delivered his second Tour title. He ended three shots clear of compatriot McGowan on 18 under.

"I'm over the moon at the moment, " said Dinwiddie. "I putted very well and I holed just about everything inside 1520 feet and that was the difference.

"I had a feeling I had a really low round in me. I had been playing well for the first three rounds but the putts hadn't dropped. But I knew that, on the back of last week in Scotland, that I was playing well enough and I managed to get off to a great start and I went on from there."

Brancepeth Castle's Tom Dunbar won the Second Division Championship at Seaton Carew Golf Club last Saturday.

Dunbar carded a 78, gross, to finish three shots clear of Blackwell Grange's Tom Scott, Hartlepool's Peter Chapman and Birtley's Gary Halliman.

The net prize was won by Ian McIntosh, of Hetton-le-Hill, whose 75 was one superior to that of Seaton Carew's David Barton.

In the semi-finals of the Clark Cup, held at Houghton-le-Spring at the weekend, Whickham and Boldon both progressed to the final on September 9.

Whickham overcame Chester-leStreet 4-1. Tony McLure overcame Craig Walton 2/1, John Hutton beat Kevin Suggett 2/1 and Gary McLure finished one up on Keith Flynn.

Gary McDonald secured a 3/2 success over David Foreman, while Colin Teasdale lost to Jonathan Egglestone 6/5.

Boldon's triumph was less emphatic, although they still prevailed with a 3/2 win over Billingham.

Gary Nesbit, Michael Calvert and Brett McAllister all triumphed in their matches, while defeats for Derek Goldsmith and Mark McAllister did not prevent Boldon from reaching the final at Durham City.