The US college golfer from Wellow became the first Bramshaw member to win the prestigious Pechell Salver after leading the 36-hole qualifying events, at Hockley Golf Club.
But there was no more joy for last year’s losing finalist, who saw his best friend James Freeman lift the Sloane-Stanley Challenge Cup in last year’s exhibition final at Stoneham GC.
Buenfeld, who practises regularly at Stoneham as well as being a member at Bramshaw, was beaten in the first round of the matchplay, less than 24 hours later.
In the end, the strokeplay victory for the 2019 European Junior Open winner came down to the finest of margins, as he claimed the trophy on countback.
The former Hartpury College golfer from West Wellow birdied his final two holes on his way to a best-of-the day 70, in really tough scoring conditions, as gusting winds on top of Twyford Down, and with the temperatures hitting the high 80s, helped firm up the fairways and greens even more.
Buenfeld, who has just completed his second year at Texas’ University of the Incarnate Word, denied Liphook’s former pro Darren Walkley, who has played on the European Challenge Tour, after they both posted scores of 74 and 70.
Joe’s Hampshire team-mate Charlie Forster also posted the same total, but crucially took one less stroke in the morning and one more in the afternoon, leaving him to take the third seed in the draw for the weekend’s matchplay.
Buenfeld’s score was also enough to land him the Hampshire Youths Championship for the best U21 total in qualifying.
Again, the winning margin was by virtue of that birdie-birdie finish, as Forster was left to take the runners-up spot.
Joe also received the Hunt Salver for the best 18-hole score by an U21 in the qualifier for his second round of 70.
The 20-year-old was one of only four to break par all day, and all came after lunch, as the wind eased slightly.
But as so often happens, the top seed in the strokeplay came a cropper in the first round of the matchplay knockout.
Having impressed everyone in reaching the quarter-final in 2021, before playing a key part in last year’s exciting final, there were plenty of fireworks in the first round clash with 2021 county champion Jo Hacker.
The player from Jersey’s La Moye, is another member of the Hampshire first-team plying his trade at a US college.
Buenfeld made a birdie four at the 11th before the pair matched each other with three birdies in three holes, making a mockery of how hard the scoring had been 24 hours earlier, as the wind lay down on top of Twyford Down.