JOE Buenfeld revelled in some of the toughest conditions Hampshire have ever faced in the South East Qualifier – although he shared the disappointment as they finished runner-up to Kent, in Surrey.

The 21-year-old, from Romsey, finished seventh overall in the race for the Peter Benka Trophy.

The 2019 European Junior Open winner was just three shots behind Surrey’s Ben Partridge, who carded two 71s in gale force-gusting winds that swept the exposed Farleigh course up on the Surrey Downs.

Joe was Hampshire’s leading scorer, alongside fellow US college golfer Charlie Forster, after both finished on one-over par.

Only six rounds below par were recorded in two rounds by the 66-strong field made up of the 11 counties in the South East Group, who were bidding to reach September’s English County Finals.

Forster had produced a blistering 67 before lunch – having gone off in the first group – to lead by two shots at lunch.

But having taken advantage of the best conditions on the greens early on, after lunch, Forster struggled to find the bottom of the cup – with no let up in the wind – and carded a six-over par 78.

Joe was in a share of fifth place after a level-par 72, and Hampshire were just one shot behind Kent at lunch, with the best five from six scores in each round counting.

The Bramshaw GC member’s first round included three bogeys in a row around the turn. But he made three birdies in five holes on the back nine.

His second round 73 featured three birdies and four bogeys but Hampshire took 10 shots more than Kent in round two – although under the old rules before 2020 when all six scores counted, it would have been a tie.

Joe, who finished second in The Big Texan tournament in March, said: “That was certainly some of the toughest conditions I have played in but. But personally I quite enjoyed the challenge. 

“It is not often you get to play golf like that, so it was fun for me, as different as it was.

“You don’t normally hit a drive 475 yards on a par-five as I did on the sixth hole – I had just 45 yards with a wedge into the green and made eagle.

“But on the fifth I had to hit a weak driver and was left with a four-iron into the green – the hole was 376 yards straight into the wind. 

“In practice on Thursday, I hit two-iron and 50-degree wedge.

“I played in conditions like that while at Hartpury College, up at Fairmont St Andrews, in Scotland. That was in March, so it was a lot colder.

“It was pretty windy in Spain when I won the European Junior three years ago.

“But Saturday was a really testing day. I thought the team did well, and can be proud we finished second, although we could have won it with a few breaks.

“The team atmosphere is really great and I have enjoyed playing for Hampshire this year with the boys,” added the Cardinals player, who was named in the Southland All-Conference team for 2023.