Will Barnes celebrated his selection to the Great Britain and Ireland PGA Cup team with a maiden victory in the North Region following his move from the Midlands.
And he achieved it in his adopted home town of Lancaster where he fired a six-under-par 65 at Ashton Hall to deny host club assistant Jon Salisbury by a shot.
Barnes, 33, originally from Lichfield who completed his training at the Belfry, recently took a teaching role at Garstang Golf Club, north of Preston, and is head of junior coaching and development for local schools.
He arrived in the area with an impressive record, having won several collegiate events while studying in South Carolina before returning home in 1999 where was one of the leading players in the Midland Region, competing in the European Team Championship in Spain last year.
"I lost my ranking when I came here but I've been invited to the Spirotech Manchester Open and Leeds Cup. Otherwise, my playing opportunities are limited," he said.
"I just have to be patient," he added after entering his own team at Lancaster and beat fellow PGA Cup rookie Barry Taylor, an assistant at Houghwood, by three shots.
The pair will line up against America at The Carrick on Loch Lomond on September 18-20 where Barnes will renew acquaintanceship with former Northenden professional and 1994 North Region champion Paul Wesselingh from Kedleston Park who is making his six successive appearance.
Meanwhile, all three are in the Open Championship local qualifying
field on July 6-7.
27 June, 2009