Champions set to stage another challenge at Carden Park

Reigning champions Mark Treleaven, right, and Jonathan Barnes will be defending their Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship title in the final at Cheshire’s Carden Park course.

But the duo have not teamed up for a competitive event since winning the title at St Mellion in Cornwall 12 months ago.

Hampshire pairing Treleaven (Hayling Golf Club) and Barnes (Lee-on-The-Solent Golf Club) have been given a direct route into the £35,000 Skycaddie & BMW supported event to be held between August 12-14.

Treleaven believes last year’s final suited their game - but remains confident of staging another challenge despite the change of venue.

“As much as we’re looking forward to the Carden Park course, it’s a pity the final’s not at St Mellion again,” said Treleaven.

“That really suited our game and we took to it well - not that you’d have guessed from our practice round where I think I lost my ball at each of the first 13 holes!

“But we’re feeling confident again, even though we’re going to be in the dark a little in terms of the course.

“Last year, we both had some experience of playing St Mellion, but we haven’t played competitively together since we won the title.

Jon’s been tied up at Lee on Solent whereas last year he had only just joined them.

“But we are going for it again and it was nice not to have to qualify for the event.”

Treleaven believes their success last year was down to their contrasting styles of play.

‘We’re both very different types of players so we each bring something different to the tournament,” he said.

“We complement each other’s game and that helps.

“I’ve been playing some decent golf this year and have been consistent, but this is a brilliant format of the game and I think that’s why we both take to it so well.”

Other teams from the South of England taking part at Carden Park include:  Michael Homewood (Horne Park Golf Centre) and Ben St John (Woodcote Park Golf Club); Wraith Grant and Michael O'Brien (Woodcote Park Golf Club); Lee Mackie  (Lee Mackie Coaching) and Martin Woodbridge (Bearwood Lakes Golf Club); and Jordan Godwin  (Barnehurst Golf Club) and Ben Daniels  (Bletchingley Golf Club).