Hampshire duo keep their cool in the Cornish sunshine
22/08/2014
Mark Treleaven and Jonathan Barnes kept their cool in potential nerve-shredding circumstances to win the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship at St Mellion today.
The duo from Hampshire began the third and final round in pursuit of the title sharing the lead with defending champions Jason Levermore and Andrew Pestell.
But while the latter’s challenge evaporated in the Cornish sunshine, Treleaven, left, and Barnes ended the £33,250 event, which is supported by BMW, two shots clear of the field.
It was anything but a straightforward victory, however. At one time six pairs occupied pole position and, depending on one’s standpoint, it appeared either none of the sextet wanted to claim the prize or all did.
In the event, with four pairs level on 15-under-with three holes of the Jack Nicklaus-designed course to play, it was Treleaven and Barnes who seized the moment.
A birdie from Barnes at the par five 16th opened up a one-stroke advantage and another at the par four 17th from his partner, the PGA Professional at Hayling Golf Club, left them needing to avoid imploding at the last to secure victory.
A double bogey would have left them level with Derbyshire duo James Whatley and Ian Walley but pars from both players ensured there was no need for a sudden death play-off.
The par meant the pair completed the tournament in 17-under and the round in three-under. Compared with the pyrotechnics of the previous day which saw them pair card a remarkable 11-under-par 61, their final round was somewhat low key.
Not that Barnes, the head PGA pro at Lee-on-the-Solent Golf Club who represented Great Britain and Ireland in the PGA Cup last year, was bothered.
“That was an exceptional score,” he reflected. “Mark played awesome yesterday, particularly on the back nine when he had five birdies and an eagle in eight holes.
“As for today, we kept an eye on the leaderboard and knew what was going on. Playing under those circumstances is good fun, especially on a great course like this one, and we really enjoyed it. It’s a ball strikers course and we’re both good ball strikers and good play got rewarded.”
That reward amounted to £5,500 winner’s cheque while local pair, Ross Whitelock (St Mellion) & Paul Hendriksen (Dinnaton Golf Club) earned £1,816 for finishing tied fourth.
