American rookie english qualifies for the open

AMERICAN ROOKIE professional Harris English will never forget how he qualified for his first Open Championship.

Eight months after playing in the Walker Cup in Aberdeen, the 22-yearold from Georgia booked his place at Royal Lytham in July with rounds of 60 and 63 in the international qualifier in Texas.

He beat England’s Greg Owen by four as eight spots were secured.

That included six successive birdies in a front nine 29, with English later saying: “I kind of lost track of how many I made.

“I was relaxed. I had some fun. I was striking the ball really well. In fact, I was doing everything really well.

“I knew the wind wasn’t going to be blowing, so I knew the scores were going to be low. I couldn’t let up.”

He continued: “It’s awesome. I told my parents and my agent that I really, really wanted to play in the British Open, so I came here today with that goal – and here I go.”

Owen, who had an albatross and led for a while the last time The Open was at Lytham in 2001, added an afternoon 61 to his opening 66 to finish 13-under par.

“It was just a good round where everything just kept going the right way,” the Us-based Mansfield golfer said. “I haven’t had a round like that in years.”

Joint third on 10-under were Canadian Stephen Ames, Argentina’s Andres Romero – who led with two holes to play at Carnoustie in 2007 – and American Justin Hicks.

A play-off for the last three spots involved americans James Driscoll and Bob Estes, Sweden’s Daniel Chopra and Scot Russell Knox.

Estes birdied the first, while a pair of pars at the short 17th was good enough for Driscoll and Chopra.

Among those to miss out was Swede Henrik Stenson, twice third in the last four years, and Londoner Brian Davis.