JUST days after becoming the Durham County Boys champion, Tom Maddison has turned his attentions to the Brabazon Trophy.

The Castle Eden golfer finished three shots ahead of Blackwell Grange's Adam Bates and last year's winner Paul Oakley (Billingham) to claim the prestigious trophy at Heworth on Sunday.

Now Maddison, with hardly anytime to reflect on his achievement after shooting his two round total 142, level par, wants to follow up that win by securing a place in the Brabazon this Friday.

The 17-year-old, from Peterlee, travels to West Lancashire Links tomorrow aiming to qualify for the reputable competition. And Maddison, a former England Under-16 international, said: "I'm driving down to Lancashire on my own and I'm hoping to get through so that I can play in the Brabazon.

"It was fantastic to win the County Boys Championship but I want to build on that. I like to focus on my game and by travelling down on my own I will be able to do just that."

Despite his success, Maddison insists there is plenty room for improvement because he was not entirely convinced by his performance at Heworth.

Sitting four shots ahead, he bogeyed the Par 3 18th and he said: "I actually found the day frustrating.

I did not play anywhere near as well as I know I can. It was a hard last hole and I failed to even reach the green - that did not help. Fortunately, though, I had done enough to win it.

"It had nothing to do with pressure because it does not affect me.

I have not been happy with my game for some time and I know I can play better. But it was fantastic to win and I just hope it's the first of many to come."

Maddison, who was part of the Durham side that lost to Yorkshire at Hallamshire on Saturday, hit 70 in the opening round to qualify for the Daily Telegraph Junior Championship later this season.

There was further joy for Castle Eden when Joe Redshaw lifted the Under-14s title by finishing ahead of Heworth's Ryan Leonard and Seaton Carew's Daniel Roberts.

Billingham's Mark Breckon became the Under 16s champion by finishing six ahead of Woodham's Mark Borsberry.

Hobson's Wayne Feaney claimed the Boys 36 hole Sports Council Trophy, with Beamish Park's Anthony Namjou finishing second.

Crook duo Tony Clark and Brian Cooper are the latest players to book a place in the semi-finals of the International Pairs competition.

Clark and Cooper fended off the challenge from 24 other pairs to reach the semi-final stage, which will be played at a top Scotland course.

There is still time for clubs to register for the tournament, the final of which, at Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club, will be televised by Sky Sports.

Entry remains just £5 per person and clubs simply need 25 pairs to participate to guarantee their winners travel to the final stages. Visit www. internationalpairs. com for more details.

Moortown's heathland course, on the northern edge of Leeds, will provide a stern test on Thursday for the North-East's top professionals.

Billingham's Mike Ure, former PGA Assistants' Champion Craig Goodfellow from Eden and Matfen Hall's Michael Nesbit are among those aiming to make progress.

Nesbit's boss at Matfen, John Harrison, has the day off and goes straight into the Southport final after tying tenth place in last year's championship at St Andrews Bay.

They will be competing for 20 places in the Glenmuir Club Professional Championship being played August 10-13 at Southport and Ainsdale.

Two teams dominated the Harrogate and District Union Third Division Championships at Romanby Hall.

On a day when scoring was difficult, the margin between the second and third placed teams was a massive 27 strokes.

Winners for the third time in four years were Pannal, the B team finishing two shots ahead of Bedale B.

The winners were indebted to a excellent round of 89 gross by Peter Louden (23), who also won the prize for the best individual score.

Only two twos were recorded throughout the day. Peter Dea (Thirsk/Northallerton), and Steve Jex (Otley) each winning 24 golf balls.

Results: 377 - Pannal B (C Ashford, P Chumas, P Louden, R Slater), 379: Bedale B (N Edson, A Fallows, B Holmes, L Morley), 406: Masham B (T Clarkson, N Goldthorp, R Walton, S Waters). Best Gross: 89 P Louden (Pannal B).

Published: 12/06/2004