GOLFERS from Haydon Bridge High School have excelled at two county competitions.

At the Northumberland Schools Golf Championships at Ponteland Golf Club, Haydon Bridge captain Alex Heppell shot an eye-catching gross score of 74 to clinch the Key Stage 4 and 5 category.

Losing out on countback was his teammate Thomas Norman, who recorded the joint best nett score of 64 in the same competition, with Jake Reed just one place behind on 66.

Alex’s performance earned him selection to represent Northumberland Schools at the North of England Schools Championships at Denton Golf Club, Manchester.

Over 30 schools were represented in the boys’ competition at Denton, covering an area stretching from the Scottish Borders to Lincolnshire.

Alex showed good form to card a gross score of 75 over the first 18 holes, which left him in 10th place at the half way mark. Playing off a handicap of five, his nett score of 70 was the third best of the opening round.

Going into the second round, Alex maintained impressive consistency to card another gross score of 75, moving him up to seventh overall in the gross competition, and recording the best overall net score of the competition.

Alex has now gained selection for the North of England Schools team which will compete at the English Schools national finals at Sherwood Forest Golf Club, in Nottinghamshire, on Monday, June 24.

Last year, Alex was part of the successful Haydon Bridge High School golf team which represented Northumberland at the English School team championships finals at Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire.

However, he has become the first Haydon Bridge High School golfer to qualify for English Schools national finals as an individual.

In recent years, Haydon Bridge High School pupils have excelled in a wide range of sports, ranging from athletics and cross country running to football, as well as their achievements on the golf course.