A September to Remember: Drax Golf Club Celebrates Inter Finals and NERGA Rabbits Success

Drax Golf Club has enjoyed a remarkable September, with two outstanding team performances in regional competition culminating in NERGA Rabbits Championship success — and individual glory for Stuart Kerr.

From a runners-up finish at the Inter Finals at Romanby Golf Club to lifting the NERGA Rabbits Team Championship at Barnard Castle, it has been a memorable period for competitive golf at Drax.

These achievements are a reflection not only of the players who competed in the finals, but of the wider team of Drax members who contributed throughout the season.

Drax finish runners-up in the 2026 Inter Finals

On Sunday, 13 September, Drax Golf Club was represented at the 2026 Inter Finals at Romanby Golf Club, where the team produced an excellent performance to finish second overall.

The Drax Inter team consisted of:

• Stephen Sutton

• Mitch Fullwood

• John Tiplady

• Al Puddyford

• Tony Atkinson

• Niall Staward

• David Gisbourne

• David Stokes

Finishing as runners-up at Finals Day represents a fantastic achievement and is something the whole club can be proud of.

David Stokes had the honour of collecting the runners-up trophy on behalf of Drax Golf Club, providing a fitting moment to mark the team's success.

The result also highlighted the importance of the wider squad. Throughout the earlier rounds, other Drax members stepped in when holidays and other commitments affected team availability. Their contribution helped the club reach Finals Day and made the eventual runners-up finish a genuine team achievement.

With the experience of Finals Day now under their belts, the team can look ahead to 2027 with renewed motivation and the ambition to go one better.

NERGA Rabbits success for Drax

Just one week later, Drax enjoyed another major success in the NERGA Rabbits competition.

Following the final event of the regular NERGA season at Malton and Norton, Drax had secured the top spot in the Rabbits Green Zone, qualifying for the Finals Day at Barnard Castle Golf Club alongside Cave Castle.

On Sunday 20 September, more than 90 Rabbits golfers from across the NERGA area converged on Barnard Castle for the 2026 Rabbits Finals Day.

With windy conditions making scoring difficult, the competition was closely contested between the top two teams from each of NERGA's four zones.

And Drax came out on top.

🏆 Drax Golf Club — NERGA Rabbits Team Champions 2026

Drax won the NERGA Rabbits Team Championship, finishing just three Stableford points ahead of Bishop Auckland, who took second place.

The Drax team that represented the club on the day was:

• Geoff Rankin

• Stuart Kerr

• Derek Wilson

• Kenny Winter

• Kev Kozicki

• Geoff Othick

• Craig Hanson

• Mel Jobling

It is a fantastic achievement for everyone who represented Drax in the Rabbits competition throughout the season.

Stuart Kerr crowned NERGA Individual Champion

There was even more reason for Drax to celebrate at Barnard Castle.

Stuart Kerr was crowned the 2026 NERGA Individual Champion, producing an excellent score of 38 Stableford points.

Stuart finished three points clear of runner-up Geoff Chamberlain of Cave Castle, who recorded 35 points.

To have both the NERGA Team Champion and Individual Champion come from Drax made an already memorable Finals Day even more special.

Stuart's individual victory is a significant achievement and provides another example of the quality of golf being produced by Drax members across regional competition.

A team effort from start to finish

While the trophies rightly belong to those who competed at Finals Day, both achievements have been built on much more than the final rounds.

Golf is a team game in these competitions, and Drax's success has involved players stepping forward when needed, travelling to away fixtures, supporting teammates and representing the club throughout the season.

The Inter team also benefited from players filling in during the earlier rounds when holidays affected availability. Those contributions may not appear on a Finals Day photograph or trophy presentation, but they are an important part of the story behind the result.

The same spirit runs through the NERGA Rabbits campaign, with eight Drax players contributing to the club's successful challenge.

Two Finals Days. Three major achievements.

September has therefore delivered an exceptional run of results for Drax Golf Club:

🥈 2026 Inter Finals — Runners-up

🏆 2026 NERGA Rabbits Team Championship — Winners

🏆 2026 NERGA Individual Championship — Stuart Kerr

To achieve success across two different regional competitions in the space of just seven days is a tremendous accomplishment.

It is also a reflection of the competitive spirit, camaraderie and commitment that exists among Drax members.

Looking ahead

The Inter runners-up finish has already provided motivation for the future, with the team now looking ahead to 2027 and the opportunity to go one better.

For the Rabbits team, meanwhile, the 2026 NERGA season has ended with the ultimate reward: the NERGA Rabbits Team Championship, alongside Stuart Kerr's Individual Championship.

There is plenty to celebrate at Drax Golf Club.

A huge congratulations to every player who represented Drax throughout both campaigns, to everyone who stepped in when needed, and to the members and supporters who followed the teams along the way.

Two Finals Days. Two outstanding team performances. Three major achievements.

And another chapter in the story of Drax Golf Club — Yorkshire's Hidden Gem.