Some of our region’s best male professionals and amateurs set out on the journey to make it into the field for the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews at Regional Qualifying.
The first stage of qualifying took place at 15 venues, including Goswick in Northumberland, and Alwoodley and Lindrick in Yorkshire.
At Goswick, Morpeth-based pro David Clark led the field with a five under-par round of 67 as Scottish pro Graeme Robertson finished a shot behind. Tyneside’s James Wilson and Wynyard’s James Harper also made it into the group of 10 players heading to Final Qualifying.
At Alwoodley, Robert Dinwiddie took top spot alongside Samuel Rook on two under-par as Blackwell Grange’s Aaron Cox, Malton & Norton’s David Hague, and Moortown’s Nick McCarthy and David Houlding made it through.
Elsewhere, Castle Eden-based amateur Thomas Harbord made it to the next stage with a T3 finish at Lindrick, Penrith Golf Hub’s Adam Chapman qualified at Fairhaven, and Hexham’s Matty Lamb made it through at Northamptonshire County.
All the qualifiers will now head to four Final Qualifying venues on Tuesday June 28 – Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St Annes Old Links – where 16 places in the 150th Open Championship are up for grabs.