Early birdie young golfer raises more than £1k in marathon South Tyneside charity event

An early birdie young golfer has swung into action to raise hundreds of pounds for charity by going three times around his favourite South Tyneside golf course in one day.

Joseph Newby, 12, was up not long after daybreak and soon joined a team of supporters to get his 54-hole challenge at Boldon Golf Club underway.

The Sunderland youngster hit his first ball of the day at 7am and exactly 12 hours later wearily sunk his last putt.

In doing so, he raised a total of £1,349 from sponsorship, business support and a bucket collection at a greyhound stadium.

The money will be split equally between the South Tyneside-based Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust and James’ Place, which supports suicidal men in Newcastle, London and Liverpool.

Joseph completed his first round in 78 shots and the third – played alongside pal Jacob Wood, 11, in 79.

A matchplay game with friend Archie Mallet, 15, where shots were not counted, made up round two

Though shattered by his marathon efforts, Joseph hopes to repeat his feat next year – only with an extra round of 18 holes added.

He said: “I was up early to prepare and couldn’t wait to go out there and play – the weather was good and I felt it would go well.

“It was great to get on the course. Playing so much in one day was hard but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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“I had some friends along and they supported me really well. I was very tired at the end but I’m very happy to have raised so much money.

“Playing 54 holes in one day was hard but I hope to do that and another round next year for charity.”

Joseph wanted to raise cash for the Chloe & Liam Together Forever Trust as a ‘thank you’ for supportive bursaries it has given him to boost his playing.

The charity, founded in memory of Chloe Rutherford, 17, and Liam Curry, 19, who died in the 2017 Manchester bombing, has provided him with sports clothing, equipment and travel expenses to tournaments.

And he also chose James’ Place due to the intervention help the charity gave to a friend of his father Craig, 40, last year.

He originally hoped to raise £500 but found his coffers swelled when friends and family rallied behind him.

Star Pelaw greyhound stadium allowed Craig to hold a bucket collection which raised an estimated £215 and held a race in his son's honour.

And £127 was raised by Anthony Baldridge and Lyndsey Holmes, who run Sunderland-based healthy food firm Nutrition Kingz, with the golf club contributing by waiving course fees.

Craig said: “Joseph did amazingly well and I’m very proud of him. He loved every minute of it and all went to plan.

“The weather was awesome and everyone involved had a really good day and some outstanding golf was played.

“One thing I learned about Joseph is just how fit he is. It was only on the 52nd hole that he mentioned his legs were hurting.

“I am very thankful to everyone who supported Joseph, they helped to make it a fantastic day, and two very good causes have been boosted.”