Armitage and Curtis both take final steps to the Open

HOWLEY HALL’S Marcus Armitage booked himself a place at the Open Championship at Carnoustie by taking second spot at St Annes Old Links in Final Qualifying.

And Pannal’s Tom Curtis will be there too after shooting 68 69 to qualify third at The Renaissance Club in East Lothian.

Armitage followed a superb first-round 65, seven under par, with a 69 to finish just two shots back of St Annes winner James Robinson (Southport & Ainsdale).

Armitage made early strides along the path to Scotland by birdieing four of his first seven holes in the morning.

He started for home with two more and closed with his seventh of the round at 18.

In round two he eagled the sixth, had his only bogey of the day at 13 then closed with birdies at 14 and 18.

Moortown’s Nick McCarthy, who qualified for the Open last year, made another impressive tilt at it and tied for eighth place (73 68) alongside former Yorkshire champion Ben Hutchinson (70 71), of Howley Hall.

Curtis was not discouraged by two bogeys in his first six holes and five birdies saw him to his 68.

He dropped three more shots in the afternoon but also netted five birdies.

Malton & Norton’s David Hague and Alex Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) both finished in a tie for sixth at Notts (Hollinwell).

Hague had five birdies and only one bogey in his first round of 68 to sit high up the leaderboard.

However, his hopes took a big hit when he dropped four shots in the first seven holes in the afternoon.

He got one of them back at the eighth, but endured two further bogeys at 12 and 13.

Fitzpatrick, reigning Yorkshire champion, had three birdies and four bogeys in his first-round 73, a formula he reversed in his favour in round two as he carded a 71.

Lindrick’s Luke Jackson tied ninth, a commendable achievement having been three over after his first four holes.

He posted a 76, but climbed the leaderboard with his afternoon 69.

Hillsborough’s Joe Dean – the former English men’s amateur champion who, like McCarthy, qualified for the Open last year – shared 11th place.