Teenager Knipes tops qualifying for Open

Curtis Knipes, an 18-year-old amateur from Chelmsford, yesterday earned a dream spot in the Open Championship at Royal Portrush by beating a field including European Tour winners and Ryder Cup stars.

Few would have given Knipes much hope at the 36-hole shoot-out at the renowned Prince’s links in Kent, with only three spots on offer for the 72 competitors and with the likes of former world No 9 David Howell, Matt Southgate and Gregory Bourdy also lining up.

However, Knipes not only qualified but, on nine under after a 68 and 67, topped the final qualifying leaderboard alongside Callum Shinkwin, his fellow Englishman who finished runner-up at the Scottish Open two years ago.

What will make Knipes’s appearance all the more remarkable in Northern Ireland in a fortnight – as the Co Antrim links hosts the country’s first major in 68 years – is that he came through regional qualifying as well.

Howell, who was on two winning Ryder Cup teams, agonisingly missed out by a shot on seven under. A par on the last would have taken the 43-year-old into a sudden death play-off with Canadian Austin Connelly, but he struggled to a bogey. Howell has two chances remaining: at the Irish Open at Lahinch which begins tomorrow and next week’s Scottish Open at the Renaissance club.

It was a fine day for English amateurs with Sussex’s Thomas Thurloway also coming through at Holliwell. The 20-year-old, who won last year’s English Amateur Championship, shot a 69, to get in on six under. He will be joined by Andrew Wilson, who finished on seven under at the Nottingham course.

There were three English qualifiers at St Annes Old Links, with former amateur champion Garrick Porteous, Jack Senior and Matthew Baldwin grasping the opportunity.