Kent Golf Limited
Congratulations to Jason Barnes for securing his European Tour Card
Former Kent Player Jason Barnes secured his European Tour card at the Challenge Tour Grand Final last week in Dubai. He was able to do so by finishing in the top 15 of the challenge rankings which is based on money earnings over the complete season.
It's fair to say he achieved his spot with determination all week as he clinched the last spot finishing 15th. In a recent interview he described that he thought his efforts were all in vain.
"When I came off the course I told my girlfriend (and caddie) 'let's forget it, it's gone'.
"Then, when I was in the scoring room I said to them 'put me out of my misery, let me see the projected rankings' and that's when I saw I was still in the top 15.
"So I went to the bar and thought to myself '18's easy, you're still in trouble'. But the longer it went on I was still in and still in and still in ..."
Where was he during this excruciating hour?
"I was in the bar, with a drink, and my phone, which I was constantly refreshing, unable to control myself!
"It was the best and worst time of my life. I never want to go through that ever again!"
Whilst completing that par on 18 he thought he had no hope of a card and yet, in retrospect, it was the best par he ever made because, having found water from the tee, he had to hole a knee-knocker for the five.
"If you'd given me that putt, with that pressure, telling me I had that putt for a tour card, it wouldn't have even hit the hole!"
When the final scores were in, his phone "went mental", but he only truly believed when he was told that he would be the first golfer called on stage in the photoshoot for the 15 graduates.
Congratulations to the player. A mention has to go out to another former Kent player Max Orrin who unfortunately was unable to secure graduation to the European Tour as he finished 22nd in the rankings. However he does have another chance to gain his tour card at the Final Qualifying Stage in Spain, which commences on the 15th of November. You can follow all the action on the European Tour Website.
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