IT’S MORE than 40 years since any amateur has successfully defended the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Amateur Championship – leaving last year’s winner Joe Buenfeld with a mountain to climb.
But having waited three long years to grab the Sloane-Stanley Challenge Cup at the second attempt, Stoneham’s Joe Buenfeld has put plenty of distance between himself and his rivals over the past 12 months – to get a real perspective on the achievement of winning, and his goals for the future.
The 23-year-old amateur, who graduated from Texas’ University of the Incarnate Word a year ago, was determined to emerge from last year’s championship at Shanklin & Sandown as the winner, when facing Hartley Wintney’s in-form US junior college kid Charlie Preston in the final.
Buenfeld has always enjoyed success since emerging from the Hampshire junior programme while a member at Bramshaw, before spending a couple of years at Hartpury, near Bristol, who were national college champions in 2019.
He then completed a four-year scholarship in Texas, where he won the Southland Conference Championship as an amateur in 2022, weeks before losing to best friend James Freeman in sudden-death in one of the best county finals in modern history at the Stoneham course they both know so well.
Joe moved his amateur handicap from Bramshaw to Stoneham last year, where he has been a member for a number of years, playing with many of the county’s top players, including four-time county champion Ryan Henley and Freeman, who has since turned pro.
Joe, who claimed the 2019 European Junior Championship in Spain – a tournament won by the likes of Nick Dougherty and Luke Donald in the past – returned to Texas at the end of last summer to work at the nh club, where 1981 Open Champion Bill Rodgers is a member.
Buenfeld, who played in the English Amateur Strokeplay Championship at Moortown, in Leeds, at the weekend, spoke this week about how good it was to be back in England in time for the defence of his title at Brokenhurst Manor, which begins with a 36-hole qualifying event, on Friday.
Joe said: “I went back to Texas to spend a few months working as a caddy at Briggs Ranch, and practising on my game, while earning some money.
“It’s an ultra-exclusive and private club – they were great, giving me plenty of time to play, and while I was not playing actual competitive golf, I was still able to take on the members and work on my game.
“Obviously, there were things I was really missing, so it’s good to be back home now. My family have also moved from their home in Romsey too, so there are things I am getting used to.
“I played in the Brabazon Trophy in Leeds, which has the second strongest field in a 72-hole competition in the UK, and also the Lagonda Trophy, at Gog Magog, which I finished second in last year.
“My game was a bit scruffy, making a few three-putts and the odd poor shot, which is to be expected, not having competed at a high level since graduating and playing here last summer.
“Looking back, I probably hit the ball better in the Lagonda than I did last year, but I ended up six shots behind the winner, last week.
“Some of that is to be expected, but going into the county championship I am feeling pretty good and I am working on smoothing out a few rough edges.
Stoneham’s Joe Buenfeld who won the 120th Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship, beating Hartley Wintney’s Charlie Preston in the final at Shanklin & Sandown. Picture by ANDREW GRIFFIN / AMG PICTURES
“The main thing is that the last 12 months have been very cool to be able to call myself the Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship.
“It still feels cool a year later, and I like the sound of still being called the county champion. It means something.
“It’s going to be a tough three days. I spend time in the gym but even I was feeling it in my legs in the last few holes of last year’s final, having played six rounds in three days.
“I know Brokenhurst Manor quite well from playing county league matches there over the last four years, and playing in the Mike Smith Memorial.
“I have a pretty good record at Brok, although I lost my singles against Kent last year when I hit my tee shot on 18 out-of-bounds trying to win my point.”
Buenfeld became the 12th Stoneham player to land the Sloane-Stanley since it was first donated to Hampshire Golf back in 1921 by Major Ronald Sloane-Stanley, whose family owned the Paulton’s Park estate – and a large chunk of Chelsea real-estate off London’s King’s Road.
Joe would love to emulate four-time winner Brian Winteridge, who claimed the county crown in 1975 and three more while playing at Hockley, in 1977, 1981 and 1982.
In total, Stoneham members have won the trophy a total of 23 times in 67 years since Ernest James first won the title in 1959, including a record six by David Harrison, the former R&A captain.
Joe is focused on trying to become the 12th amateur to have won the title twice in the last 106 years. Realistically Buenfeld won’t have time to win four if he is to pursue his dream of making it in the pro game.
Joe said: “This summer is about finding out where my game is, playing in the biggest events I can get into, and maybe some of the mini-tour events while still an amateur.
“But the last year has also opened my eyes to there being other options in life, not just in golf.”
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Stoneham’s Brian Winteridge first won the Sloane-Stanley Challenge Cup in 1975 at Hayling. PICTURE COURTESY OF WINTERIDGE FAMILY