PGA Cup men dominate Fourball leaderboard

PGA Cup hero Jonathan Barnes (above left) was one of a number of the Great Britain & Ireland squad to adorn the leaderboard after the opening day of the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship at Forest Pines.

Following his heroics at Slaley Hall and a good showing in Bulgaria last week, the experienced Ampfield Par 3 professional continued his rich vein of form alongside Tournerbury assistant Dan Bone (above right) to set the pace in the BMW-supported tournament.

The Hampshire duo, who had never played together prior to the summer qualifier as 20-year-old Bone was an 11^th hour stand-in for Barnes’ usual partner Mark Treleaven, didn’t put a foot wrong as they carded a flawless nine-under-par 64 to lead by one in the 54-hole championship.

A shot off the pace are Surrey neighbours Ben Clayton (Hindhead) and Clifford Gough (West Hill), while four pairings share third spot at seven-under including PGA Cup vice-captain Jon Bevan (Rhos on Sea) with partner Mark Sheppard (Darland); Barnes’ PGA Cup team-mate Benn Barham and Mark Trow (both Kings Hill); James Whatley (Morley Hayes) and Ian Walley (Kedleston Park); and 2005 champions Martyn Thompson (Parkstone) and Michael Watson (Wessex Golf Centre).

A further seven pairings lie on six-under-par including PGA Cup player and reigning Glenmuir PGA Professional Champion Dan Greenwood, who is playing on home turf along with Forest Pines colleague Matthew Peacock.

The defending champions Adrian Ambler (Low Laithes) and Aran Wainwright (Mid Yorkshire), who haven’t played together since lifting the title 12 months ago, posted a five-under-par 68 to lie in striking distance.

But the story of the day was the display of the in-form Barnes and his rookie assistant partner. Barnes, impressive at Slaley Hall with two wins in three matches, weighed in with five birdies, including four on the front nine, while Bone got the pair up and running with a birdie at the second and three more after the turn.

“It was brilliant,” said Barnes, who admitted his recent success had reinvigorated his enthusiasm for playing.

“I just played really well, we both played well. Most of the holes we were both in to give ourselves a good look at the hole and so we were a little bit more aggressive with the putts. It came off and we got a few in.

“I was supposed to play with Mark Treleaven but he couldn’t make it. He got Dan in as a replacement and we did really well at the qualifier and then Dan played brilliant today. I knew of him but we’d never played together. We had good fun out there.”

Bone, a second year assistant on the PGA Foundation degree, admitted that Barnes’ experience out on the course played a key role in his own performance.

“This is only my second full season of turning pro,” he said. “I’ve played steadily in Hampshire events but not won one but then you have people like Jon who win everything.

“It’s been going well and I’ve been just trying to play solidly and work on a few things. Jon helps me a lot out on the course with confidence. He’s really positive and always helping and giving me advice so he’s someone to learn from.”

Clayton and Gough (above left and right respectively) dovetailed in a round of two halves as Gough set the charge up with Clayton bringing the duo home down the back nine.

Gough, who is set to head off to a coaching summit in the USA at the end of the month, rattled in birdies in the opening three holes, with Clayton producing four birdies and an eagle after the turn, which was offset by one bogey.

But the pair, who have been friends since their days in junior golf, were more than satisfied with their opening salvo.

Clayton said: “Cliff got off to a great start. He was pretty good on the front nine as he started with three birdies and played lovely all the way.

“I woke up a bit on 10. I birdied that, 11, 13, eagled 15 and then we dropped a shot on 16. Made birdie 17 and a solid par on the last when Cliff had gone into the water. We dovetailed well.”

Tomorrow will see the field cut from 60 pairs to 24 and ties.