Tasmanian star has berth in The Open in his sights

TASMANIAN touring professional Simon Hawkes will be in action today at St Anne’s Old Links in an attempt to qualify for the 147th staging of The Open.

Hawkes will be competing over 36 holes for one of three places on offer at St Anne’s during final qualifying.

The 29-year-old Victorian Open champion and Royal Hobart Golf Club member will tee off alongside Finland’s Oliver Lindell and Ryan O’Neill from England.

Fellow Australians Richard Green of Victoria and New South Wales amateur Kyle Underwood are also attempting final qualifying at St Anne’s.

At 6941m, St Anne’s Old Links is one of the fine championship links of England’s northwest coast.

The par 72 course last hosted final qualifying in 2012 when The Open was held at nearby Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club.

If successful, Hawkes will have earned a spot in The 147th Open at Carnoustie from July 19-22. FRIENDS, work colleagues, golfers and family have paid tribute to the great Peter Thomson, who died recently aged 88.

More than 1000 people at- tended a memorial service at the MCG dining room in Melbourne to farewell the man who is among Australia’s greatest ever golfers, as well as a long-time administrator, writer, broadcaster and architect within the game.

Thomson had battled Parkinson’s disease for the past four years. He died at home in Toorak, surrounded by most of his family — his wife Mary, four children, 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The five-time British Open champion is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. If you have a news item you would like to contribute to this column, please forward to admin@golftasmania.org.au