Justin Barnard - County Champion 2022
Tuesday 24th May 2022
CGU Amateur Championship Week 15th - 21st May 2022 Tehidy Park GC
Host club Tehidy Park’s own Justin Barnard was crowned Cornwall County Champion as the CGU Amateur Championship Week 2022 drew to a close on Saturday with the 36-hole final in which the 27-year-old defeated clubmate Alex Hinds 4&3. Both had advanced to the final in great fashion and were supported on the day by a large section of the Centenary celebrating Tehidy membership who understandably had split loyalties.
Saturday arguably saw the best weather of the week and the two finalists set off in calm sunny conditions which were maintained throughout. Barnard was up quickly in the match and through 5 morning holes was 4 to the good and threatening to run away with things. It was a lead he was never to relinquish. Royal Navy serviceman Hinds though was not going away and although he was able to reduce the deficit, Barnard maintained a 3-up lead at the halfway point.
In front of a swelling crowd Barnard kept his nose in front and through 26 holes had increased the advantage to 6. On the 13th hole a birdie from Hinds kept him in the match and he demonstrated his grit by winning the short downhill 14th as well.
The long uphill 15th was though to be the deciding hole. At dormy 4 up Barnard put his second into the right-hand greenside bunker whilst Hinds found the front left putting surface albeit a long way from the back right pin. Hinds putted up nicely before Barnard splashed out well to a short distance from the hole but just outside Hinds. Barnard stepped up and calmly despatched his ball into the hole for the win. What was great to see throughout was the very sporting manner in which the two players competed and conducted themselves, and the conclusion of the match brought about a warm embrace.
Sunday 15th May - Royal Cornwall Goblets
The traditional curtain raiser to the week saw 208 players take to the field and for the majority of the later starters there were damp conditions. Out in the dry and the first group on the course, two Tehidy Park juniors set the pace as Tiernan Wallwork and Freddie Kirkland returned a foursomes Stableford score of 40 points. Their score held up for a large part of the day but ultimately, they were pipped into second place by Simon Hartley and Dave Parsall (Porthpean) who scored 42. Third spot was claimed by Tom Haley and Howard Smith (Bowood Park) on 38 as they beat three other pairs on the same score.
Monday 16th May – Seniors & Founders Cups
Monday’s field contained another excellent entry as 129 players fought out the Seniors & Founders Cups Stableford competition. In the end those who entered both were the winners as places one to five in both cups went to the same players. Dave Tregidgo (Perranporth) playing off 21 was the winner with 42 points as 9 nett pars saw him just pip Geoff Saunders (Trethorne) on 41. Host club member Graham Elliott took third spot from 4 others by virtue of countback on 38 points.
Tuesday 17th May – Royal Cornwall Challenge Cup
Another 120 players took to the Tehidy Park Course in a Pairs BetterBall Stableford and Dave Tregidgo (Perranporth) was again part of a wining team with Jim Oliver (Porthpean) as the pair totalled 48 points, only just enough to beat second placed Graham Jones and Tony Friday (Radnor) on countback. Both pairs were later starters and played in much better conditions than those ahead of them. Heavy rain and greens which were flooding forced a short suspension of play but on resumption the sun shone and the competition was completed just before darkness fell.
Also playing late in the day, Ian Harris and Mike Rooney (Porthpean) took third spot on 44 points by virtue of countback from 4th placed father and son Paul & Lewis Jackson (Perranporth) and 5th placed father and son James & Heath Coombes (Newquay).
Wednesday 18th May – Amateur Championship 36-hole Qualifier
The weather again played a part on Qualifying day with windy and wet conditions throughout and particularly in the afternoon. The field of 72 (reduced from a historical 88 entries) battled throughout and the host club's Josh Chapman topped proceedings with a two round total of 144 (+2), three shots ahead of Justin Barnard (145) and Sam Crocker (Carlyon Bay, 147). Chapman claimed the Scratch Cup as a result and also took the Handicap Challenge Cup with a nett total of 140 (-2), two shots ahead of Rob Lewis (Cape Cornwall, 142) and third placed Marc Wilson (Perranporth, 144).
An administrative error by County Secretary Chris Pountney then subjected 3 players to a play-off which in fact was not necessary based on the absence of one other competitor. This forced Peter Simmons (Truro), Al McCulloch (Knebworth) and Rod Handyside (West Cornwall) to the 1st hole again and with a considerable audience watching proceedings. Simmons birdied the first and McCulloch then birdied the second play-off hole (18th) with Rod Handyside looking like the unfortunate loser. Pountney’s blushes were spared though as all three moved into the knockout stages on Thursday. Not content with an unnecessary play-off, the draw for the top 32 players in the knockout Match Play was impacted by the earlier mistake and had to be drawn again in a crowded clubhouse to much amusement. No one mentioned it again during the rest of the week!!!
Thursday 19th May – Top 32 and last 16 Amateur Championship Knockout & Lawrance Cup
Round 1 of the Match Play stages threw up some surprises as four previous Champions were beaten. 2014 Winner Matt Richards (West Cornwall) was beaten by an inspired Tom Savage (Newquay), two-time winner Conor Wilson (Perranporth) went down by two holes to Jack Kevern (West Cornwall) and 2021 winner Jamie Greet (Mullion) lost to Alex Hinds by the one hole. Josh Chapman as top seed and Justin Barnard as second both had comfortable wins against 1978 winner Andy Rowe (Looe) and Cary Clark (Trevose) respectively. Simon Knowles (Perranporth) moved into the last 16 with a win over Richard Ackland (St Mellion).
In the last 16 Chapman was beaten 4&3 by County Men’s team member Tom Stephens (Trevose) and Joe Reynard (Trevose) repeated the feat against Savage . However, three other county team members were beaten. Alex Hinds beat Adam Bridgewater by the odd hole, Junior County Captain Ethan Tempest (West Cornwall) beat Aaron Stephens (Newquay) 3&2 and Knowles moved on with a 2&1 win over Kieran Faulkner (Looe). Barnard despatched Marc Wilson 5&3, whilst the quietly emerging Dean Tulley (Perranporth) beat Adam Herman (Newquay) 3&2. It took 21 holes for Jack Kevern to emerge as winner over Peter Simmons.
Lawrance Cup
Due to the ongoing Amateur Championship matches, a smaller field of 46 competed for the Lawrance Cup an individual stableford.
Emerging top of the pile was Mike Rooney (Porthpean) with a 45 point haul despite not scoring at the first hole. He made up for this with 11 nett pars. Beaten into second place on a day when his score could easily have seen him win was 6 handicap Tehidy Park member Dan Isaac who shot a gross 72 (+1) for 41 points. Third spot was claimed by Lewis Jackson (Perranporth) on 39, just pipping Mark Evans (St Mellion) on countback.
Friday 20th May - Amateur Championship Quarter Finals, A & B Team Club Championship Finals & Western Morning News Challenge Cup
The Amateur Championship last 8 played in the morning and there were wins for Tom Stephens (3&2 over Jack Kevern), Alex Hinds (2&1 over Joe Reynard), Dean Tulley (who continued his run with a 1 hole victory over Ethan Tempest) and Barnard who edged the plucky Knowles by the odd hole.
Semi Finals were set up then with Barnard facing Tulley and Stephens taking on Hinds. Hinds was 4 up on Stephens at one stage but when the latter took four holes on the bounce it looked like he had the momentum to go on and win. Hinds though was not to be outdone and won by the odd hole at the last. Barnard moved into the final with a 3&2 win over Tulley.
A Team Club Championship Final
The A Team Final was contested between the host club and St Enodoc. It was the former who came out on top with a 2.5 - 0.5 scoreline. Tehidy Park were represented by Tom Fox, Rob MacGregor, Martin Langford, Matt Lamb, Josh and Tom Chapman, whilst the St Enodoc team were Charlie Runnalls, Dan Witts, Louis Archer. Lewis Bradley, Josh Greenaway and Neil Childs.
B Team Club Championship Final
Falmouth deserved their win in the B Team Final with a solid victory over host club Tehidy Park who had been looking to clean up on Finals day. Falmouth were represented by Nicky Chinn Luke Geach, Ash Bennett, Dave Blizzard, Ben Browning and Matt Morrison. The Tehidy team were Chris Hoyle, Lee Chambers, Adam Notman, Chris Hart, Piran Kent and Sam Williams.
Western Morning News Challenge Cup
132 players took to the course in a 3 man Team Stableford with the best two scores to count. Host club members Steve Dawe, Graham Elliott and Julian Ridge were the victors with a 78 point total. Second place just the one point behind were Lee Cunningham, Matt Dixon and Dale Band and they pipped County President Andrew Clotworthy, County Seniors Captain Paul Clahane and Jon Behennah on countback. Paul Jackson, Lewis Jackson and Dave Tregidgo finished 4th on 75, one point ahead of Dave Holland, Nic Avery and Martyn Wooltorton.
with Andrew Clotworthy and Tehidy Park Captain Richard Brighton
At the end of week presentation Tehidy Park GC Captain Richard Brighton welcomed those present and expressed the club’s pride not only at hosting the week during this their Centenary Year but also for having two of their own membership in the County Championship Final. He thanked all of the club staff for their contribution to what had been a very successful week.
Before presenting the prizes CGU President Andrew Clotworthy congratulated Tehidy Park on their Centenary. He thanked Tehidy Park GC not only for their hospitality but for all the hard work put in across all fronts both on and off a course, which thanks to Course Manager Andrew Eddison and his staff and a little help from above, had improved on a daily basis. He congratulated the two finalists and singled out Tehidy Park’s former Junior Organiser Ken Rule who had just witnessed two of his erstwhile juniors compete against each other. Clotworthy thanked the County's Sponsors and alluded to ongoing review of the county week format and constituent parts assuring the audience the Union would continue to listen to suggestions. In conclusion he looked forward to County Week at Newquay in May 2023.
The Cornwall Golf Union is proud that Glyn Rowett (St Austell) will become President of the South Western Counties Golf Association at the end of SW Week at Minchinhampton in June 2022. SWCGA Captain for the same period will be our own County Captain Charlie Phillips who at the conclusion of the prizegiving announced a new look Cornwall Team for SW Week which takes place from 4th – 10th June.
Alex Hinds (above) is rewarded for good performances across the week with a County debut and he is joined by other SW Week debutants in Ethan Tempest and Jamie Greet. Justin Barnard is unfortunately unavailable due to work commitments
The Cornwall team travelling to Minchinhampton is: Adam Bridgewater (Tavistock & Launceston), Rob MacGregor, Alex Hinds (both Tehidy Park), Tom Stephens, Joe Reynard (both Trevose), Matt Richards, Ethan Tempest (both West Cornwall), Kieran Faulkner (Looe), Aaron Stephens (Newquay) and Jamie Greet (Mullion). (Non-Travelling Reserve: Dean Tulley (Perranporth)
