MIDDLETOWN, R.I. — Eric Barlow, PGA (Winchester CC) rode back-to-back eagles on the back-9 at Newport National GC to post four-under par 68 to win the first New England PGA Stroke Play Series event of 2020.
COMPLETE RESULTS | PHOTO ALBUM
Barlow stuffed his second shot close at the par-5 14th and converted the putt for the more traditional of the two eagles, getting to three-under par for the day. He then hit his tee shot on the 15th hole into the 14th fairway before draining his approach for his second consecutive eagle.
“I hit a terrible drive, I was actually on the 14th hole,” Barlow said of his tee shot on the 15th hole. “I had 150 yards and I couldn’t see the green. The ball was going right at the flag and we got up to the green and the ball was in the hole. Back-to-back eagles is nice.”
Barlow added four birdies to his two eagles, offset by four bogeys.
Jeff Martin, PGA (Wollaston CC) made six birdies on the day and was five-under par through 16 before a double-bogey on 17 dropped him one shot behind Barlow, posting three-under par 69.
Lou Rivers, PGA (Foxborough CC) and Frank Leja, PGA (New Seabury on Cape Cod) tied for third at two-under par, one stroke ahead of Greg Farland, PGA (Marlborough CC) and Nick Jagoe, PGA (Allendale CC).
Newport National was in pristine condition on Monday, and the 71-player field was treated with picture-perfect weather as well. A special thank you goes to Newport National head golf professional Chris Hulme, PGA and the entire Newport National staff.
The event was the first New England PGA Tournament of the 2020 season. The NEPGA Stroke Play Series will continue on June 15 at Kirkbrae Country Club in Lincoln, R.I.
Thank you to the NEPGA partners who made Monday’s event and the entire NEPGA Stroke Play Series possible, including Avidia Bank, Bushnell, Yamaha/New England Golf Cars, Omega and the PGA TOUR.