Barnes was born in Muswellbrook, New South Wales. He had a successful amateur career which included victories in the 2002 Australian Amateur, the 2003 Riversdale Cup, which he won with a record 22 under par total, and the 2003 New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
Professional career
In 2003, Barnes turned professional. Shortly thereafter, he joined the PGA Tour of Australasia.
In 2009, Barnes became the first Australian to win on the Omega China Tour, when he claimed victory in the Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open.[1] He went on to head that tour's Order of Merit that season. He then qualified for the Japan Golf Tour by finishing first at that tour's qualifying school.[2]
