No joy for Irish in Open qualifying

Jonathan Thomson, Daniel Hillier and Richard Mansell,

Ireland’s 10-strong challenge came up short in the battle for 12 spots at Final Qualifying for The Open.

Royal Dublin amateur Hugh Foley was the best of the bunch, finishing four shots outside the top three in a tie for 11th after rounds of 70 and 72 at West Lancashire.

Nicholas Poppleton, Louis de Jager and Daniel Croft qualified there with Ben Hutchinson, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and amateur Sam Bairstow taking the three spots at St Annes Old Links.

Australian Deyen Lawson, Sam Forgan and Connor Worsdall qualified from Prince’s while New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, Jonathan Thompson and Richard Mansell earned their tickets to Royal St George’s at Hollinwell.