Regional Qualifying

Robert Rock was among 100 names to edge one step closer to The 152nd Open at Royal Troon by making it through to Final Qualifying next week.

Fifteen courses around Great Britain and Ireland played host to almost 2,000 Regional Qualifying hopefuls on Monday, with as many as seven places up for grabs at some of the venues.

Rock – a former DP World Tour professional who qualified for the US Open at Pinehurst last month – produced a fine round of three-under-par to finish T3 at Kedleston Park, behind amateur Charlie Box and 22-year-old George Ash.

Jonathan ‘Jigger’ Thomson, who memorably sank a hole-in-one at The 149th Open in 2021 [celebrating above], finished on two-under to also progress from Kedleston Park.

Sweden’s Adam Wallin had a day to remember by equalling the course record (63), with the aid of two back-nine eagles, at Moor Park in Hertfordshire.

He was joined by American duo Nick Carlson – who also registered an eagle – and Ted Dougherty, Estonia’s Carl Enn Hellat, England pair Nick Woof and Matt Gauntlett, and South Africa’s Justin Harding, who has enjoyed two wins on the DP World Tour.

Five players lit up their scorecards with a magical hole-in-one – three of them coming at Fulford.

David Hague found an ace at the 5th hole on his way to a seven-under-par tally, which was enough for him to top the leaderboard.

Daryl Ley also made a one on the 5th while YouTuber Matt Fryer recovered from a triple-bogey at the 1st to land an ace at the 3rd.

The first hole-in-one of the day arrived at Goswick, courtesy of Kyle McKinnon. He opted for a 9-iron at the par-3 15th, launched it right at the flag and two bounces later it dropped into the cup.

And William O'Halloran [below] needed just one stroke to negotiate the 103-yard 8th hole at North Hants.

Five players on one-under-par were waiting for a potential play-off at Kilmarnock (Barassie) until Alexander Farmer swooped in late with a four-under 67 to nab second place and one of the seven coveted qualifying berths.

Inverness amateur Jonathon Keith topped the leaderboard on five-under-par with Chris Somers, Rory Smith, Cormac Sharpe, Thomas Craig and Stuart McLaren taking the other spots.

Eliot Baker found eight birdies in a bogey-free round to lead the field at Minchinhampton. He finished two strokes clear of OJ Farrell and Josh Hilleard and three ahead of Jamie Dick, Louis Boston, Ash Mansell and Nick Cunningham, who all progressed to Final Qualifying.

Sam Forgan [above] won a play-off at Frilford Heath to also move into Final Qualifying. Forgan came through qualifying three years ago to make it to The 149th Open at Royal St George’s. He took the final place on offer behind Timothy Shin, Niall Shiels Donegan and Hunter Howell.

Corey Sheppard and Dominic Knight set a five-under target at Ferndown. Luke Metcalf, Billy McKenzie and Timon Baltl finished a shot further back, while Robbie Busher progressed on three-under-par.

Hesketh proved to be one of the more difficult Regional Qualifying venues with just three golfers finishing in the red. Jacob Davies led the way on two-under, one stroke clear of James Horton and Jake Hibbert. The other four who made it through – Luke Quint, Jack Sallis, Francis McGuirk and Mark Young – all finished on level-par.

It took a mammoth play-off at North Hants to determine the final qualifier, with Jake Sage eventually making it through at the seventh extra hole after four players had tied for seventh on even-par. Ryan Lumsden, James Cooper, Curtis Griffiths, Freddie Edmunds, David Rudd and Daniel Brown also qualified.

Meanwhile, Jack Doherty and Ross Munro [below] avoided the drama of extra holes at Goswick, before 12 players contested a play-off for the remaining five places. Aidan O'Hagan, Joe Bryce, George Cowan, Arjuna Anday and Ross Laird will also tee it up at Final Qualifying next week.

Final Qualifying will be staged at four venues across England and Scotland – West Lancashire, Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Burnham & Berrow in Somerset and Royal Cinque Ports in Kent – on Tuesday 2 July.

The 152nd Open takes place at Royal Troon from 14-21 July.

Here is the list of players who made it through to Final Qualifying:

Bearwood Lakes: Stephen Ferreira (-6), Julian Perico (-6), Daniel Gaunt (-5), Benjamin Martin (-5), Jack Floydd (-5), Jack Kurzberg (-4) and Saptak Talwar (-4).

Caldy: George Holland (-5), Joseph Sephton (-3), Daniel Croft (-3), Stephen Croman (-3), Cameron Walker (-3), Marcus Mohr (-2), Stephen Capper (-1).

County Louth: Jack Madden (-6), Gerard Dunne (-4), Liam Grehan (-3), Jake Whelan (-2), Niall Kearney (-2), Jack Hume (-2).

Ferndown: Corey Sheppard (-5), Dominic Knight (-5), Luke Metcalf (-4), Billy McKenzie (-4), Timon Baltl (-4), Robbie Busher (-3).

Frilford Heath: Timothy Shin (-5), Niall Shiels Donegan (-5), Hunter Howell (-4), Sam Forgan (-4).

Fulford: David Hague (-7), Jack Buchanan (-5), Charlie Thornton (-4), James Freeman (-3), David Houlding (-2), Jack Trewhitt (-2), Adam Walker (-2).

Goswick: Jack Doherty (-4), Ross Munro (-2), Aidan O’Hagan (-1), Ross Laird (-1), Joe Bryce (-1), George Cowan (-1), Arjuna Anday (-1).

Hesketh: Jacob Davies (-2), James Horton (-1), Jake Hibbert (-1), Luke Quint (E), Jack Sallis (E), Francis McGuirk (E), Mark Young (E).

Kedleston Park: George Ash (-4), Charlie Box (-4), Robert Rock (-3), Henric Sturehed (-3), James Walker (-2), Jonathan Thomson (-2), Reece Samson (-1).

Kilmarnock (Barassie): Jonathon Keith (-5), Alexander Farmer (-4), Chris Somers (-3), Rory Smith (-3), Cormac Sharpe (-3), Thomas Craig (-2), Stuart McLaren (-2).

Minchinhampton: Eliot Baker (-8), OJ Farrell (-6), Josh Hilleard (-6), Jamie Dick (-5), Louis Boston (-5), Ash Mansell (-5), Nick Cunningham (-5).

Moor Park: Adam Wallin (-9), Nick Carlson (-6), Justin Harding (-6), Carl Enn Hellat (-6), Nick Woof (-5), Matt Gauntlett (-4), Ted Dougherty (-4).

Northamptonshire County: Robert Holden (-5), Joseph Quinn (-4), George Castle (-2), Simon Lilly (-2), Luke Northwood (-2), Matty Lamb (-2), Jack Cullington (-1).

North Hants: Ryan Lumsden (-3), James Cooper (-1), Curtis Griffiths (-1), Freddie Edmunds (-1), David Rudd (-1), Daniel Brown (-1), Jake Sage (E).

Rochester & Cobham Park: Freddie Price (-8), Max Orrin (-6), Joshua Bristow (-4), Robin Wells (-4), Warren Wood (-4), Jonathan Exon-Taylor (-3), Nicholas Olson (-3).