Hunt’s bid falters at final hole

1:10pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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MICHAEL Hunt endured a cruel stroke of luck which cost him a place in the next stage of the Open Championship at the regional qualifier, over his home course Pleasington.

The Lancashire County player, who broke the amateur course record of 65 in the same event four years ago, watched in disbelief as his wedge shot to the final hole spun back and rolled off the green.

Hunt, the only home player in with a chance of clearing the hurdle before next week’s final qualifiers, fluffed his chip shot, and the ball trundled back to where he had just hit it from.

A bogey five left him on two-over-par 73 and a shot outside the mark.

But there were celebrations for a trio of local golfers, who edged one step closer to competing at Royal Birkdale on 17-20 July.

Jonathan Hurst, Mark Bradley and Mark Young reached the last stage of qualifying following an intense day of competition at Pleasington Lane yesterday.

Hurst, who last year won the regional qualifier by an incredible five shots with a round of 64, did not have as comfortable a passage this time around, but carding 69 proved to be enough.

Shaw Hill golfer Hurst, 22, will be joined by Chorley rival Mark Bradley, who carded 71, while Mark Young, of Longridge, made it through a nail-biting play-off in a group of six after finishing on 72.

They will all now go on to local final qualifying at Hillside, Southport, on July 7-8 ahead of the Open.

Hunt, however, wasn’t the only Pleasington golfer to suffer disappointment. Andrew Westwell, Paul Clarkson and Jack Brooks all missed out after carding 74, 77 and 78 respectively.

LEADING QUALIFIERS - 65 B Taylor (Houghwood); 68 M Sheppard (Darland); 69 C Maroney (Harwood), N Harris (Whitefield); 70 M Baldwin (Royal Birkdale), M Ramsdale (Formby), J Hurst (Shaw Hill), A Green (Turton); 71 M Bradley (Chorley).