Six European Challenge Tour players put in remarkable performances to come through Final Qualifying and gain places for The Open Championship in two weeks’ time.
Following an emotional maiden victory on Europe’s top developmental tour in Scotland last week, James Heath made it a dream six days reaching his first Major Championship after finishing tied second at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent.
After a first round 69, the Englishman made four birdies and an eagle to reach eight under par after seven holes but three bogeys and two double bogeys left the 33 year old one under with three to play. The former Faldo Junior Series winner rallied with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to reach three under par and book a place at Royal Troon.
Last year’s SSE Scottish Hydro Champion Jack Senior put in an equally impressive performance, shooting 69-70 to lead the qualifiers at Hillside on five under par.
The 27 year old had a rollercoaster day, with two double bogeys on the short 10th mixed with an eagle and ten birdies in his two rounds. But that proved enough for the Lancashire man to reach five under par and top the pile at the Southport golf club.
Also qualifying from Hillside were Senior’s compatriots Paul Howard and Dave Coupland. The English duo held their nerve during a five-man play-off with Coupland making birdie at the second play-off hole, while 25 year old Howard clinched the third and final play-off spot at the fourth extra hole sinking a birdie putt from seven feet.
Coming through qualifying at Woburn was Ryan Evans, who kept up with playing partner Paul Dunne who continued his impressive run at the Milton Keynes club. The 29 year old matched the Irishman’s 68 in the morning and then survived a double bogey on the 16th in the afternoon to card another 68 to finish in second place.
Spain’s Scott Fernandez also secured a place at Royal Troon after pipping eight-time European Tour Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie to second place at Gailes Links. The 23 year old from Grenada qualified at the first attempt on six under par and revealed his ambition to play in The Open had been fuelled by watching the competition at Royal Troon in 1989 on video.
They will be joined in Scotland by Clément Sordet, winner of this season’s Turkish Airlines Challenge, after the Frenchman earned an exemption with a runner-up finish in December’s Thailand Golf Championship in a strong field that also featured winner Jamie Donaldson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood.
What they said:
Scott Fernandez
“This has been my dream since I was a little kid and I used to watch a video of the 1989 event every morning. It was the one that Mark Calcavecchia won in a play-off, beating Greg Norman and Wayne Grady. It is fun that I am going to be playing in the event there, too, now. I only turned pro in December so this is the toughest test I have faced over the finishing stretch.”
Ryan Evans
“I played really well to be fair. It helped playing with Paul Dunne today. All my friends were saying if you beat Paul at Woburn you’ll qualify because he’s got such a good record here. I didn’t beat him but I was close enough. I can’t wait to get to my first Open. I been struggling a bit on the Tour this year but this is a big boost and hopefully can kick-start my season. I’ve tried to qualify twice before. I came here last year and double-bogeyed 16 to miss by two. Thank goodness that didn’t happen again.”
James Heath
“It means so much to play in The Open, I’m delighted. I thought I’d blown it but came back strong and showed a lot of resilience. I’ve never played a major and never played at Troon so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve got a lot of confidence after the win but I know I have to work on my game. It’s been ten years between wins on the Challenge Tour and it’s a long time. I did a lot of different jobs like working for my dad’s heating firm or for a marketing company last winter to get some pocket money to keep me going.”
Jack Senior
“It's great to make it into The Open for the first time. Something every golfer always dreams of. I'm off to Denmark for a Challenge Tour event this week, then have planned to have next week off, which is just perfect leading up to Troon.”
Dave Coupland
“At the second play-off hole, I hit my three iron off the tee fat but then hit a great four iron to 12 feet and sank it. It’s great to make it through again and I'll be able to make some money this time.”
Paul Howard
"I hit seven iron off the tee and probably one of the best eight irons I've ever hit on the fourth play-off hole. It hasn't quite sunk in yet how good it is to make it to my first Open. But I know everybody that's helped me on the way with be delighted.”
