Frayne Takes Open Tips From European Tour Star - 08/08/2007

ADAM FRAYNE joined European Tour star Nick Dougherty to warm-up for The Open in Monday's first practice day.

St Mellion star Frayne came through the qualifiers to win his place at Hoylake, finishing third in the West Lancashire stage of Local Final Qualifying last week.

He plans to have further practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, but was boosted to join former PGA EuroPro Tour winner Lee Slattery and Liverpool's Dougherty for his first taste of the Hoylake course.

"It was good," he said. "I played with Nick at England Schoolboy level so it was good to be with him again.

"With him being local he had quite a crowd following him around, which was a good experience.

"He gave me a few lines off the tee as some holes can be tough to read, so that was useful too."

Frayne has previously had a taste of top-level golf when he competed in the 1999 Benson & Hedges International Open, but he added: "This is by far the biggest event I've played in.

"I have played on the European Tour before, but this is a lot bigger.

"I didn't expect it to be so hectic on the practice day, but it was good for me to be thrown in at the deep end in a way with a big following for our round.

"That gave me a taste of what to expect on Thursday.

"My main aim is to make the cut but I just want to enjoy it. I've done the hard work to get there and it's something I've dreamed of for a lot of years."

Frayne opened his challenge at Local Final Qualifying with a brilliant 69, and a 73 for his second round saw him secure the third and final spot from that course by just one stroke.

"I had a good first round but the second day was very windy and I thought I'd come in perhaps one shot too low with a 73 because the wind dropped in the afternoon," he said.

"But I waited and watched the scoreboard, and I've got to admit my nerves were jangling.

"I was quite surprised to get through by one shot but I can't wait to play in the tournament now."