Dixon seals Match Play semi spot

Seaham’s Grant Dixon has battled his way through to the semi-finals of the Durham County Match Play Championship after a tough weekend at Seaton Carew.

Dixon came through four rounds to clinch a semi-final clash with Bradley Hildreth of Billingham back at Seaton Carew this coming Saturday.

Dixon opened up with a hard-fought one-hole success against Durham City’s Andrew Bell in the first round on Saturday morning, maintaining his fine form to edge out Ravensworth’s Jordan Bettis 3&1 in the afternoon.

The third round was played yesterday morning, and Dixon made it three wins in a row, defeating Boldon’s James Gerencser 2&1 in another close-fought clash. In the afternoon, Houghton’s Jeff Willey provided the opposition and pushed Dixon all the way before being pipped 2&1.

Semi-final opponent Hildreth knocked out Castle Eden’s Stuart Brown by one hole in his quarter-final.

The other last-four clash will see Boldon’s Rhys Thompson, the defending champion, up against James Wilson (Tyneside).

Thompson had to scrap for his victory over Wynyard’s Ben Bailey in the quarter-finals, only triumphing at the second extra hole.

Earlier, Thompson saw off South Shields’ Martin McCririck 3&2 in the third round, and fought brilliantly to edge out clubmate Gavin Nesbit by two holes in round two.

He had opened the competition in style, outgunning S. Huntington of Castle Eden 8&7.

England’s Paul Broadhurst overcame a four-shot deficit on the final day to clinch the Senior Open title at Carnoustie.

Broadhurst, 50, began the last round four shots adrift of overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez, but a final-round 68 was enough to clinch him his first major title as the Spaniard fell away to card a three-over-par 75.

Broadhurst finished on 11 under par, two shots ahead of American Scott McCarron, while Jimenez finished a shot further back and tied for third with Magnus Persson Atlevi.