On song duo make light work of Betchworth Pro-Am
Lefty star Chris Gane (Left Handed Golf at Silvermere) and an in form Jonathan Barnes (Lee-on-the-Solent) shot rounds of two-under-par 67 to share victory and top prize in the Betchworth Park Pro-Am, supported by Downs Solicitors.
Making his tally three wins so far in 2017 plus a start in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Gane was happy with his game as he explained: “Wentworth was an amazing experience, but my trip to Luttrellstown Castle last week for the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Professional Championship ended with two disappointing rounds, so it’s great to come here, find some form and be back in the mix.”
Gane continued: “Betchworth was in fine condition and typically challenging, but at least we weren’t being subjected to those recent high temperatures in the 30s. One eagle and 17 pars isn’t my usual style, but that’s golf!”
On a day when cooler and blustery weather prevailed, the two players took very different routes to their sub-par scores and cheques for £600. In a shotgun start starting on the 15th, Barnes opened with a bogey on the par three but then had three birdies at the second, fifth and 11th for his 67.
After coming so close in the Be Wiser PGA in Hampshire Strokeplay Championship at the Army the day before, Barnes was delighted to come out on top and share the winner’s pot with Gane, especially after Gane had won the Pro-Am at Barnes’ home club, Lee-on-the-Solent, at the beginning of June.
Starting on Betchwork Park’s sixth hole, Gane made an eagle at the ninth to jump into an early lead. Despite pushing for more birdies, nothing but pars went down on his card for a flawless 67.
Starting at the first, Kingsnorth’s Tom Muchmore dropped a shot on the fifth. Two birdies at the 12th and 14th brightened up his prospects, but another dropped shot at the 17th took him back to par and back in the pack. Muchmore’s last hole birdie for a one-under-par 68 edged out the even par round of David Copsey (DCGS Poult Wood), and added another high placing for the season.