| Barnes & Fay Win Dramatic Final In 2010 RW Wilson Memorial |
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| Daniel Fay and Glenn Barnes (pictured above left) have won a dramatic final to take out the 2010 RW Wilson Memorial. With the match all square going to the final hole, a clutch par by Fay saw them defeat Ian Campbell and Travis Whiteman by the narrowest of margins - 1 up. |
| It always looked like being an exciting final. None of the four competitors had won an honour board event at Virginia before. Further, their handicaps were almost identical. Just one handicap shot separated Barnes (off 8) and Whiteman (off 9). Nothing could split Fay and Campbell who were both off 19. That wasn't the only thing Fay and Campbell had in common. They're brothers-in-law and had some fun sledging during the week in the lead up to the final. |
| It was win-loss-win-loss for the opening four holes. A string of halves ensured the score remained stuck on all square through the 10th. The most exciting half came on the 8th when Barnes rolled in a 30 foot birdie putt to match Whiteman's par (on the only hole where he got a shot). A par by Barnes on the 11th was good enough for a win but Whiteman responded with a birdie on the 13th to tie the game yet again. When Fay made par on the 14th (with a shot) and Barnes made a great par on the 15th, they jumped to a 2 up lead - the biggest of the day. Victory was in sight. |
| Match play can be a funny game though. Campbell holed a 15 foot birdie putt on the 16th to cut the deficit in half. Whiteman followed that with a fantastic chip from 10m short of the 17th green to secure a par. It was good enough for a win and the match was all square yet again! |
| It turned out to be a dramatic final hole. With no shots going to any players under the match index, it was every man for himself. All four players missed the fairway but Fay was in the best position on the shoulder of the fairway bunker. He blocked his approach shot however and was caught up in the mounds right of the green. |
| Whiteman found trouble left off the tee. He almost secured a stunning par but his chip shot from the grass bunker slid by the hole and finished inches away (his reaction can be seen above right). Campbell then had his own chance at a par but his 15 foot putt came up just short. With Barnes in trouble, the stage was set for Fay. Taking the putter (he later said he was too nervous to chip), Fay hit a wonderful lag putt from the mounds to a mere 2 feet away. He knocked it in and the winners of the 2010 RW Wilson Memorial were etched into the history books. |
| A big thanks to everyone who played in this year's event and made it so much fun. Glenn Barnes and Daniel Fay hadn't even met until they were paired together for the qualifying round. The same goes for Travis Whiteman and Ian Campbell. It was exciting to see plenty of other new names contending for the title and the full draw can be viewed by clicking here. We'll hopefully see you next year! |
| A few photos from the final can be viewed below. |
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Travis Whiteman plays a fairway bunker shot on the 11th.
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Glenn Barnes hits a great chip shot from over the back of the 11th green.
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Glenn Barnes makes par on the 11th to take a 1 up lead.
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Daniel Fay off the 12th tee.
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Ian Campbell off the 12th tee. Hmmm, might have caught a little sand there.
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Ian Campbell reacts after narrowly missing his long par putt on the 12th.
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Glenn Barnes off the 13th tee continuing his quest to win an honour board event using a yellow ball.
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Travis Whiteman hits a great drive off the 13th and makes birdie to square the match.
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Ian Campbell tries to recover with his third shot to the 17th.
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Travis Whiteman hits a great chip on the 17th to just 2 feet away.
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It's getting close! Daniel Fay misses his bogey putt on the 17th and the game is all square again.
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Glenn Barnes found trouble after a wayward drive off the 18th tee.
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Ian Campbell also found trouble and did well to reach the 18th green in 3 shots.
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Travis Whiteman tries to hit a high shot over the trees on the 18th.
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After the best drive in the group, Daniel Fay plays his approach shot to the 18th green.
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Travis Whiteman's priceless reaction after his chip for par just slides past the hole.
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Daniel Fay tries the "Texas wedge" with his third shot from right of the 18th green.
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Daniel Fay's putt finishes just 2 feet away but Ian Campbell thinks there's a little work left to be done.
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Ian Campbell's par putt on the 18th comes up just short.
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Daniel Fay holes his par putt on the 18th (as partner Glenn Barnes looks on) to win the 2010 RW Wilson Memorial.
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Victory on the 18th for Glenn Barnes and Daniel Fay.
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Shaking hands after a dramatic final.
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Winners are grinners.
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