In-form Jason Barnes leading qualifier

in English amateur championship

Jason Barnes was not surprised to find himself as leading qualifier for the English amateur championship at Woodhall Spa after becoming the only player to beat par for a second successive day.
The 24-year-old from Kent went round the Bracken course in 70 strokes which, combined with his 68 over the Hotchkin, sees him top the list on 138, seven under par. He finished three strokes ahead of Sam Hutsby and four clear of Suffolk’s Michael Swan.
“If I say I’m not surprised it might seem conceited but I have been playing well,” said Barnes. “Also, I just kept the ball on the fairways and putted well although you need a bit of luck. In these conditions you are bound to get some bad bounces so you need a few good breaks, which I got. But it’s all about good course management and qualifying. I just hope I don‘t suffer the curse of the leading qualifier.”
England international Hutsby admitted he produced his ‘B’ Game after carding 73 over the Bracken and declaring it had been a struggle. “I didn’t hit the ball as well as yesterday and my putting was poor,” said the 19 year old from Hampshire.
“I missed a lot of short ones for birdies but I’ve learned how to grind out a round when I’m not playing well. But I wasn’t under any pressure after shooting five under yesterday and at this stage it is all about qualifying. But I definitely had my ‘B’ Game on today.”
Burns, the Kent champion, was out in the first game of the day, a two-ball with Roberto Laino from Bedford, at 7am on the Bracken. The pair went round in under three hours and Burns bagged a brace of eagles along with four birdies.
The 20 year-old from Sundridge Park enjoyed the better of the elements and eagled the fourth with a putt from off the green and chipped-in for a three at the 538-yard 17th. Burns is looking forward to the knockout stages in a bid to go better than last year when he lost in the first round to international Matt Cryer.
Swan, 19, another talented teenager from the highly productive Stoke by Nayland club, shot 73 on the Bracken for 142. The day was a story of a troublesome wind allied to hard, bouncy courses proved a tricky cocktail for all those seeking to progress.
It sent scores soaring and only 15 beat par on either course. One of those was another England cap, Steven Uzzell, who carded 71 over the Bracken for 144 which was a noble effort after his victory in the Russian Amateur and four rounds in the Russian Open last week. It would have been even better for the Brabazon Trophy winner but for back-to-back double-bogeys at the 16th and 17th.
“I lacked concentration on a couple of shots because I got tired,” said the 25 year old Yorkshireman. Nevertheless, he was out in 33 and bagged six birdies.
Among others to finish on 144 were Gary Wolstenholme, still seeking his first English championship, who had a 72, boy cap Eddie Pepperell with 73, and Tom Sherreard, another Kent man, with 70, all on the Bracken.
A total of 65 players qualified on 149, four over par, or better. Among those who didn’t were England boy captain Tommy Fleetwood on 150, ‘A’ Squad members Gregg Bailey on 155 and Jason Palmer on 156, and boy caps Gary King on 158 and Oscar Sharpe on 159.
The English Amateur Championship is sponsored by Your Golf Holidays.
More information, news and daily scores can be found on the Championships section of the EGU website http://www.englishgolfunion.org//showpage.asp?code=00010002000100030002.