Dozens still dream of a spot at The Open Championship - 29/03/2007

MORE than 60 golfers from the PGA EuroPro Tour have reached the Local Final Qualifying Stage of The Open Championship.

There were 16 regional qualifiers held across Britain and Ireland on Tuesday and Wednesday and the successful players still have a chance of playing in The Open, one of the four majors in world golf.

Among those performing well included Neil Walker (pictured right), who won the EuroPro Tour competition at Cardrona in May.

A total of 384 players will now play a round on both Monday and Tuesday at one of four venues and the top three from each location will secure their place in the tournament among the golfing elite.

The successful PGA EuroPro Tour players from this week's regional tournament are listed below. (Only players that have competed in a main tour event in the 2007 season are included).

Ashridge: James Conteh (Moor Park), Lee Gauthier (Fernheart Ltd), Francis McGuirk (Princes), Robert Watkins (Bush Hill Park) and Guy Woodman (Stoke Park).

Effingham: Michael Lindfield (Seaford), Jeremy Martin (Richings Park) and Callum Scott.

Enville: Craig Billing (Mullion), David James (Bridgnorth), Richard O'Hanlon (Uttoxeter) and Russell Smith (Sutton Coldfield).

Gog Magog: Richard Beadles (Brampton Park), Paul Maddy and Paul Ring (Boyce Hill).

Minchinhampton: Dean Barnes (Ferndown), Chris Gill (Hele Park), Paul Jones (Canford Magna), Cennydd Mills (Vale of Glamorgan), Ben Welch, Daniel Wood (The Oxfordshire) and Lee Wood.

Musselburgh: Alan Lockhart (Ladybank).

Notts: Matthew Cort (Rothley Park), Daniel Jones (Rufford Park), James Mason (Rotherham), Nicholas Taylor (Beeston Fields) and Neil Walker (Special Steel Group).

Old Ford Manor: Daniel Brooks (Mill Hill), Sam Jarman (Woburn), Jeremy Kavanagh (Stoke Park), Lloyd Kennedy (Chelmsford), Jason Levermore (Clacton-on-Sea) and Sean Whiffin (Enfield).

Pannal: Chris Hanson (Crosland Heath), Daryl Ley and Thomas Robinson (Wynard).

Pleasington: Mark Ramsdale (Formby).

Prestbury: Scott Jackson (High Legh Park), Ian Ridgway (High Legh Park) and Freddy Valenti (Pryors Hayes).

Rochester & Cobham Park: Matt Ford (Marriott Tudor Park), Simon Shepherd (Lydd) and Ross Whitelock (Staddon Heights).

Royal Ashdown Forest: Glyn Bateman (Royal Eastbourne), Matthew Freeland (Wildwood), Steven Kattenhorn (Corhampton) and Tim Spence (Lindfield).

Royal Dublin: Padraig Dooley (Cork), Justin Kehoe (Birr), Michael McDermott (Stackstown), Brian McElhinney (North West), Alan Murray (Greystones), Barrie Trainor (Bray), Daniel Sugrue and Leslie Walker (Dundalk).

Silloth on Solway: Christopher Campbell (The Carnegie Club), Mark Loftus (Cowglen), Callum Nicoll (Prestwick), Ian Parnaby (Ramside) and James Wilkinson (Brampton).

Trentham: Lee Clarke (Beeston Fields), Robert Harris (Blankney) and Eddie Vernon (Burton-on-Trent).

Nine players are also on the reserve list for the Local Final Qualifying stage and these are: Chris Cousins, Jason Dransfield (Royal Liverpool), Noel Fox (Portmarnock), Craig Housden (Channels), Sean Mason (Teign Valey), Mark O'Sullivan (Galway), James Ruebotham (Welwyn Garden City), Adam Scallon (Brocket Hall) and Joe Templer (Henley).

Date posted: July 5, 2007