Barham Masters Valderrama

Recently crowned Virgin Atlantic Little Red PGA (South) Order of Merit champion Benn Barham (PGolfCoaching@Pedham) maintained his winning form by taking the first Golf Escapes PGA South Andalusian Overseas Pro-Am.

Winning by three shots from the Order of Merit runner up Chris Gane (Lefthandedgolf@Silvermere), Barham took home a cool £800 for his seven-under-par total, and then helped his amateur partners from C+K Group - Ian Pether, Simon Robertson and Neil Grey - win the team event by no less than eight shots.

With a total of four-under-par 211 for second place, Gane earned a handy £650, while Phil Beever (Redlibbets) finished third, helped by a memorable eagle three at Valderrama’s legendary par-five 17^th hole. Delighted with his result, Barham commented: “With the Titleist PGA Play-Offs in two weeks, this was the ideal event to play in, with three rounds over three very testing courses. I made a great start at La Reserva to finish with 67 to lead by three.”

He continued: “I was really pleased with my 69 at Valderrama, as it was my first time on this world famous course and there’s a huge premium on being in the right place. At Finca Cortesin my lead was down to one shot with six holes to go, but I re-grouped and made some birdies to win.

“This is a great event, the courses are fantastic – Valderrama’s in my top five courses of all time - and with an invite thanks to Ian Pether, coming here was always a good call.”

Gane was of the same opinion, explaining: “It was great to finish on a high at Finca Cortesin. This is a terrific event, and while there’s some work to do on one or two things, I’m really looking forward to Turkey and the PGA Play-Offs.”

Over three rounds at La Reserva, Valderrama and Finca Cortesin, Barham‘s first round of five-under-par 67 opened up a lead that only Gane, Paul Sherman (Langley Park) and Calum Callan (Cottesmore) got near with rounds of 70.

At Valderrama Barham fired off four birdies in the first eight holes and despite bogeying the ninth and 11^th, he parred his way home to finish on a terrific two-under-par 69, extending his lead to seven shots. Valderrama spread-eagled the chasing pack, with Gane shooting a two-over-par 73, Sherman 77, and Callan 78.

However an early start at Finca Cortesin saw Gane make six birdies on his way to a four-under-par 68, reducing Barham’s lead dramatically. Out in one-over-par, by the 11^th Barham knew he was only two shots ahead of Gane, and then bogeyed the 12^th to be just one.

He re-grouped and birdied the 14^th but although he gave it back at the next hole, Barham birdied the 16^th and then the 18^th to notch up another well-deserved victory in a highly successful season to date.