Our region’s best professionals and amateurs started their journeys to the Open Championship at Royal Portrush with Regional Qualifying.
The first stage of qualifying took place at 13 venues, including Berwick-upon-Tweed (Goswick) in Northumberland and Alwoodley in Yorkshire.
At Goswick, Close House’s Andrew Scrimshaw made it through alongside Hexham Golf Club-based Jonathan Richardson and Thomas Rowland – all three players posting rounds of four under-par.
They’ll be joined in Final Qualifying by Wynyard-based amateur Ben Bailey and Wynyard professional James Harper – who came through a playoff with Ken Ferrie and Durham City-based Jack Trewhitt to claim the final ticket to the next stage. Jack later gained a spot in Final Qualifying having been named as a reserve. Liberton-based amateur Kieran Cantley topped the leaderboard at Goswick with a seven under-par 65.
At Alwoodley, Rotherham-based amateur Ben Schmidt led the field with a three under-par round of 68. Rockliffe Hall-based Andrew Wilson made it through following a seven-man playoff for five spots after his round of 71.
Meanwhile, Leeds Golf Centre-based amateur Ben Firth topped the leaderboard alongside Nick Marsh at Fairhaven.
The qualifiers will now move on to Final Qualifying, which takes place at four venues – Notts Hollinwell, Prince’s, St Annes Old Links and Fairmont St Andrews – on July 2 with 12 places available at The 148th Open at Royal Portrush.
