A little more than 18 months ago, Nathan Barbieri was back at Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia qualifying school after a season well shy of the Sydneysider’s expectations.
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Barbieri would go onto to win the qualifying tournament in what he calls a turning point. Now, as he prepares for his home state open at the Ford NSW Open, the 28-year-old leads the same tour’s Order of Merit and is one of the favourites at The Vintage Golf Club in the Hunter Valley.
“A lot of people actually ask me about that; I think there was a bit of a kick in the teeth in a way,” Barbieri said of returning to Q-School.
“You’re obviously disappointed that you didn’t have the season you wanted and you belong out here and all that. To go there and actually win, it’s almost proven a point to myself.”
That point has driven some of Barbieri’s best ever golf this season, with the Monash Country Club member starting his campaign by sharing 16th at the PNG Open and then reeling off four consecutive top-10s, highlighted by a runner-up at the NT PGA.
“I wouldn’t say I was peaking, but it’s just sort of rolled off well,” he said of his early season form.
“I wasn’t actually going to go to that first event in PNG… but I did and it ended up paying off. Obviously Darwin was nice and been rolling well, playing good golf. We’re coming to the business end now where there’s more points up for grabs.”
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The Order of Merit points increase this week at Golf NSW’s premier event in the Hunter Valley, with the proximity to home making the NSW Open a special week for Barbieri.
“This one’s a little closer to home too, so I’ve got family and stuff coming down, so that’ll be good,” Barbieri said.
“But it’s also a little warm-up for obviously the bigger ones too that are really important with Open spots and Masters spots and all that sort of stuff.
“I’m looking for any win at this point but the NSW Open’s, obviously my home open. It’s important to me deep down and it’d be nice to get the job done.”
Chasing his first tour win, Barbieri will rely on previous experience at the Greg Norman/Bob Harrison-designed layout, including rounds with locals Corey Lamb and Jye Pickin, while the increased prizemoney and points are aided by the presence of defending champion Lucas Herbert.
Barbieri is no doubt intent to put the presence of LIV Golf’s Ripper GC star out of his mind in the same way he is attempting to push any focus on the Order of Merit and the DP World Tour card that comes with winning the end of season title to the back of his mind.
“I haven’t really thought about it too much,” he said of the Order of Merit.
“I mean, there’s obviously a little bit of hype around and the noise is going to be there. You’ve got to learn to deal with that sort of stuff but at the end of the day it’s just another tournament, another opportunity to play well.”
