Barnett wins Bathgate title after cut scare
17/05/2013
Andrew Barnett carried on from where he left off last year when he won the Bathgate Cheshire and North Wales Open at Portal after a three-man play-off.
The North Wales Golf Range professional clocked up six victories in an assortment of events in 2012 but none so dramatic as this one.
He looked certain to miss the first round cut until he pitched to eight feet on the last hole and rolled in a birdie.
Barnett, 42, who closed with a best-of-tournament five-under-par 68 to add to his opening 76, admitted: "I was a bit to surprised to win because I did not play well on the first day but in the next I kept on the fairways and made fewer mistakes."
He racked up 13 birdies over the two rounds, the second most crucial being one he boxed from 20 feet at the first extra hole.
That ended the challenge of Pike Fold's Grant Hamerton and overnight leader Steve Parry, from Hart Common, who blew his chance when he bogeyed the 18th after finding a bunker with his approach shot.
Jon Bevan made his presence felt in his first appearance in the region after recently moving to Rhos on Sea from Wessex Golf Centre by finishing in a four-way tie for fourth place, a shot off the pace.
Like Parry, the 44-year-old former European Tour player forfeited his hopes with a last hole lapse as he closed with a 70 - the second best score of the day - highlighted by an eagle at the 10th.
