Eaton triumph in Barnard thriller

Eaton Golf Club won the Barnard Trophy via a play-off at the end of a gripping final with Middleton Hall at Barnham Broom.

Middleton Hall fired out of bounds off the tee at the first extra hole as Eaton combination Peter Collins and Neil Augustin’s ball lay on the short grass.

Collins and Augustin went on to negotiate safely the remainder of the par-4 18th to bring to a conclusion the annual annual foursomes knockout competition for over-55s.

Earlier a tense afternoon’s golf began with Augustin and Andy Hood triumphing 3 and 2 in the first match out on the course.

Eaton quickly claimed another point as Collins and Garry Davis recorded a 7 and 5 success.

But Middleton Hall soon hit back with a convincing victory of their own as Nigel Ward and Steve Symonds powered home 8 and 6.

Eaton pair David Bussey and David Marshall were involved in a much closer encounter with David Freeman and Andy Thaxton. It went right to the wire before the four men shook hands on a halved match on the final green.

That was also the scene for the last game in which Middleton Hall duo Phil Jones and David Wright pulled off a brilliant ‘save’ from a greenside bunker to help them secure a 1-up win.

But with the sides locked at 2.5-2.5, Colins and Augustin emerged victorious from the play-off drama to bring home the silverware for Eaton.