Tinworth sets Open standard
Regional qualifying for The Open championship took place at Wildernesse Golf Club in Kent this week.
More than 100 golfers descended on the Sevenoaks course knowing only eight of them could keep alive their dream of playing at St Andrews.
Richard Tinworth finished top of the leaderboard after shooting a threeunder-par 69, one ahead of The London Club’s Michael Day.
Langley Park amateur Thomas Langley and Germany’s Claudio Consul both went round in 71, while amateur Mark Collins (Chart Hills), Andrew Butterfield (Knole Park), Javier San Felix (Spain) and Tom Sherreard (Chart Hills) carded 72s to claim the final four spots following a play-off.
Among the six reserves are Ashford’s Thomas Muchmore, Tonbridge Golf Centre’s James Jones and Ralph Levett from Knole Park.
Andy Smith, representing Marriott Tudor Park, narrowly missed out on qualification after a one-over 73.
Further down the standings were Gary Gilligan (Wildernesse), Jamie Harris (Nevill), amateur Danny Jones (Kings Hill) and Todd Adcock (Nevill).
Final qualifying is next week before The Open takes place at St Andrews from July 16-19.
Wildernesse’s former club captain, Richard Partridge, has won this year’s Irish Seniors Amateur Open at Roscommon Golf Club in Ireland.