Barnes storming Jon wins Hampshire Open

Ampfield’s Jon Barnes claimed the Hampshire Open title for the second time in his career after a two-shot victory at Royal Winchester.

Barnes’ 36-hole total of 139, a score of five-under-par, was enough to again earn him the trophy that he first won back in 2007.

Michael Lord, of New Forest Golf Club, was his nearest challenger, while Lord’s colleague Chris Tyrrell finished in a tie for third, alongside Rob Gowers (South Winchester) and Nick Redfern (AIA Group), on 142.

“I’m over the moon,” said Barnes. “This is the premier event in Hampshire golf and it’s fantastic to win it.”

Barnes held a one-shot lead at the halfway mark, after a four-under-par round of 68 in the morning, the highlight of which was a run of three consecutive birdies from 14 to 16. Hot on his tail were Lord and Lee-on-the-Solent’s James Ablett, the defending champion.

Barnes thought he might have thrown victory away when he bogeyed 12 and then double bogeyed 13 in the afternoon, but he rattled off birdies at 15, 17 and 18 to seal the win.

“I’ve come second in this event so many times and stupidly I thought to myself when I was out there ‘Here I go again’ and I went bogey, double,” said Barnes, who will represent Great Britain & Ireland against the United States in September’s PGA Cup. “I should know better than to look ahead like that.

“But I thought ‘I’ll just try and birdie in now’. It actually made me really positive.”

Southsea’s James Blatch took the amateur prize, on a score of 148, with Petersfield’s Ben Lobacz, the county championships runner-up, finishing second on 149.

Arrun Singh-Brar, of Brokenhurst Manor, was third on a score of 152, while he claimed the prize for the best afternoon round by an amateur, with 74.