Barnes keeps cool to land Surrey Open
01/08/2016
Lee-on-the-Solent’s Jon Barnes kept a cool head to claim victory after a play-off against Lea Cooper in the second Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit event of the year: the PGA Surrey Open Championship.
The 45 year old carded a two-under-par 142 around Kingswood to be crowned the new PGA Surrey Open champion.
“I didn’t think two-under would be in the frame!” said Barnes. “In the play-off, it was a shame Lea’s drive finished where it did, but it was great to win and I’m looking forward to the remaining Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit events. I’d also like to thank Golf Pride for offering to re-grip all the competitors’ clubs.” 
Former PGA Cup player Barnes showed why he’s won the PGA in Hampshire Order of Merit nine times, shooting a bogey-free final round of two-under-par 70 when most weren’t equalling par.
Barnes walked away with a winner’s cheque for £2,000, while runner up Cooper (Tilgate Forest) picked up £1,285. The pair edged out the 143s of Alan Lovelace (Farnham), James Sharp (Waterhall) and Craig Cowper.
After the first round, it looked like a three horse race between previous Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit champions Richard Wallis (Canterbury) and James Ablett (Lee-on-the-Solent), and Boughton’s Greg Haenen, when all three shot terrific three-under-par 69s. Just a stroke behind were Reigate Heath’s Lewis Parker, Surrey Downs’ Craig Cowper, Littlestone’s Charlie Wilson, Simon McGreal (Bradfield College) and James Foster (Newbury & Crookham).
Barnes’s opening 72 had been a roller coaster with three bogeys and four birdies on his front nine. But his second round comprised two birdies and 16 pars, with only the 14th providing any drama. Up against a tree, Barnes hit it out left handed and put his third close enough to get up and down for par.
Thinking his 70 still wouldn’t be good enough, Barnes was surprised to find he was in a play-off against Cooper. Taking a three wood off the 18th tee, he left himself in the perfect position for a wedge to the green, while Cooper’s drive bounced into the trees to leave an almost impossible shot.
Finding a greenside bunker, Cooper failed to get up and down in two, leaving Barnes the luxury of two putts from 15 feet to become the new PGA Surrey Open champion, and lead the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit rankings.
The next tournament in the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit is the PGA Southern Open Championship at East Sussex on the 11th and 12th of August.
