Kentish Express Ashford & District
Barham gunning for Tour card
Golf
Benn Barham sets out next week on his attempt to regain his European Tour card.
The 39-year-old from Tenterden – director of golf development at Pentland Golf and coach at Pedham Golf Club near Swanley – tees off at Hardelot in France on Tuesday, aiming for a top-20 finish and progress to the second qualifying stage in early November in Spain.
The final qualifying stage is played over six rounds in Catalunya, beginning on November 14
Barham last played on the full tour in 2010, before having a kidney removed after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumour.
He returned to the sport, the following year, playing on the Challenge Tour.
Barham said: “I had a blood test last week and the latest six monthly scans and everything is fine.”
He added: “Johnathan Callister, the MD at Pentland allows me a bit of freedom to manage my own diary and my sponsors and supporters are helping me so it was a no-brainer.”
Entry for the first stage next week is £1,350, with the whole investment set to be in the region of £6,000 to £7,000.
Barham won the PGA South Region title at Kings Hill a couple of weeks ago and is on course to retain his Virgin Atlantic Order of Merit title, with one event remaining.
He added: “I have been playing good this year and have upped my practice in the last six weeks.” I have to go there on my A game.”
Jason Barnes recorded his best-ever finish on the European Tour last week, with 14th spot in the Italian Open in Milan.
The Ashford-born 31-year-old based at Chart Hills carded a four-roundtotal 273, winning ¤21,650, finishing only five shots behind maiden winner Rikard Karlberg.
The week’s good work boosted his season’s earnings to almost nearly ¤37,000.