Hampshire pair setting sights on final spot again

Jonathan Barnes (left) and Mark Treleaven.

Former champions Mark Treleaven and Jonathan Barnes are plotting another return to the Golfbreaks.com PGA Fourball Championship Final.

The serial top 10 finishers will begin their bid to challenge for the title again when they play in the qualifying round at Surbiton Golf Club on July 24.

Treleaven, of Hayling Golf Club, and Barnes, of Lee-on-The-Solent Golf Club, topped the leaderboard at the 2014 final before a third placed finish a year later and ninth spot 12 months ago at Carden Park in Cheshire.

But now Treleaven says the Hampshire pair are on form again as they aim for the £32,250, BMW supported, showpiece event which will this year be held at Whittlebury Park Golf Club in Northamptonshire between August 16-18.

“We’ve both been playing really well this year, Jon’s won a couple of times and I’ve won one, it’s a decent ratio and I’m pleased with it,” explained Treleaven.

“But we didn’t play so well last year and the course didn’t really suit Jon as it’s quite a long track at Carden Park.

“I’ve never played Surbiton but if we can get through then Whittlebury Park will be a lot easier for us to get to, it’s a reasonable distance as last year was a four hour drive.

“But it’s a really good tournament, I love it and it’s suited us both well.”

Treleaven says the format carries on from his amateur days and goes some way to explaining why he and Barnes are so well suited to the event.

“When I was an amateur, all my golf was in fourball form and I still like that format now, I can’t bear foursomes,” he said.

“But I really enjoy this and we gel together well, Jon’s very steady and at worse, nine times out of 10, the worst he’s going to make is par at a hole, so that frees me up which is good.”