Open door as Oslo kid sets a record
HE is just weeks out of high school and travelled to Edinburgh more in hope than expectation. But the fearlessness of youth was more than enough to take Kristian Johannessen one giant step closer to a place in The Open Championship.
The 19- year- old Norwegian blasted his way to a 63, a new course record, to run off with top prize in Regional Qualifying at Bruntsfield Links.
On a day when the majority of the field struggled to break par on an extremely tough course, the Oslo teenager’s eight-under round drew gasps of disbelief from spectators and rivals alike.
Johannessen is one of eight players from yesterday’s 86-strong field to move through to Final Qualifying at Glasgow Gailes a week today. Provided, that is, he can arrange travel and accommodation in time.
About to take up a scholarship at the University of Tennessee, he revealed: ‘ I play i n the Norwegian Club Championship tomorrow, so I’m getting straight on a plane, flying home tonight.
‘ When i s Final Qualifying? Tuesday? OK. We’ll have to deal with that next.
‘I came over on Friday just for the chance. I had never been to Edinburgh before, so it was nice to visit. I thought I would give it a try and see how it goes.
‘Of course, it’s one of my better rounds. I really liked the course.’
The amateur, who finished in the top 10 of the Lytham Trophy this year, birdied three out of the first six holes yesterday, then added another on the eighth to turn in four under.
He dropped a shot on the 10th but bagged five straight birdies from holes 13 through 17 to set a new course record.
Johannessen is on the freshfaced side of youthful, explaining: ‘I’ve just finished high school a couple of weeks ago. I play for the Norwegian men’s team, this is my first year, and I played for the junior team for four years.
‘We played in Scotland at the European Boys’ Te a m Championship at Murcar Links in Aberdeen, where we finished second. It’s nice to be back.’
If Johannessen is venturing into the unknown, a couple of other strong finishers yesterday will be covering f amiliar ground at Gailes, with former Scottish Boys’ Order of Merit winner Conor O’Neil and Challenge Tour player Paul McKechnie both more than acquainted with the course.
O’Neil, who shot a fine 67 yesterday, can also draw on some good playing partners in preparation for Final Qualifying, revealing: ‘ I’m a member at Glasgow Gailes. Quite often, I play with Scott Jamieson, who is a kind of mentor to me — we’ve been good pals for 10 years.
‘When schedules allow, I play with him, Marc Warren and Ewen Ferguson. They will all be there next week.’ McKechnie hared back to Scotland from finishing tied 21st in the Belgian Challenge Open last Sunday — endured a sleepless night, thanks to the nocturnal interruptions of his young family — and still shot a 69 here, securing a spot at Gailes.
The other players who automatically made it through to Final Qualifying yesterday were Tom Higson (Gleneagles), Graham Rankin ( Drumpellier), Colin Baird ( Bothwell Castle) and Kevin Loughrie (Cambuslang). And Elliot Saltman came through a four-man play- off to claim the final spot — and move a step closer to a third Open Championship appearance.
The delighted member of the famous East Lothian golfing clan said: ‘ The Open holds great memories for me, from qualifying alongside Lloyd and having Zack on the bag in 2009 to qualifying again in 2012. Hopefully I can make it again.’