Richard Robson-Crosby has produced a putting display many a Tour professional would die for to win the Merchants' Cup and the title of 2009 St Andrew's Boys Open Champion.

Following in the footsteps of City of Newcastle's Nicky Maddison, the 2008 champion, our Northumberland youngsters are showing the world that they are a force to be reckoned with - a tribute to the standard of the Northumberland Development Programme.

Richard's name will now be inscribed on the trophy alongside the likes of Paul Lawrie, the 1999 Open Champion and the last Briton to lift the claret jug, the 2008 Silver Medal Winner at Royal Birkdale, Bristol's Chris Wood, and of course, Nicky after his outstanding performance last year.

Seventeen-year-old Richard, who became the youngest club champion last season in the history of Ponteland Golf Club, was one of three players from Northumberland who made it through to the last 32 and the match play stages of the tournament - Prudhoe's Andrew Scrimshaw and Tom Rowland being the other two.

On the qualifying day and played over the Eden course, most of the Northumberland lads had early starts and the best of the conditions.

Richard said: "I was off at 7.30am and there was very little wind. I had one birdie and five bogeys shooting a 74 and I was unsure if I was going to qualify. Last year when I played, I had a 72 and qualified in 29th place out of 32. Luckily this year, I made it in as the 15th qualifier with 76 being the cut.

"The first and second rounds were played on the Eden the next day, winning the first round 2up. I played all right in that match but nowhere near as well as I played throughout the rest of the week. The second round match was against Andrew Cunningham where I was 2 down after seven holes and ended up winning that match 5&3 - I really got the putter working in that game.