Hexham hoping to be kings of Castle

This Sunday, admission is free for golfers who want to follow any of the club teams in the Dixon Cup at Hartlepool, with a noon tee-off for the showdown at Graeme Storm's home club. Dixon Cup organiser Colin Mussett, also the Hadrian League secretary, said: "It adds a bit of spice that it is on the same day the Ryder Cup is decided. We should have a winner around 4.30pm and after the Dixon Cup finishes, the Ryder Cup will be reaching its peak on television.

"It's not as if lovers of the sport have to take in one or the other. They can do both. What a fabulous day for golf in the North East." It is likely to be the Hexham captain, Ian Crawford, who will be able to sit down in front of the television with the cup on his lap.

When it's the cold reality of a scratch strokeplay tournament rather than the fervour of matchplay, the usual league format, you dare not bet against a team with the pedigree of Hexham, who have also completed a league and cup double.

Hexham will field three plus handicap men, pictured, in Phil Waugh (+2), Ben Taylor (+1) and Sean Heads (+1). The other four are not far behind - Martin Coup (scratch), Warren Young (1), Alastair Clark (3) and Ian Paxton (4).

So Prudhoe, Bamburgh, Whickham and Saltburn will be making up the numbers on this occasion - just like the Americans in the Ryder Cup.

Taken from "Teeing off with Tim Taylor"