Dougherty set for Open test (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Dougherty set for Open test

12:16pm Monday 8th June 2009 in

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Chorley’s Nick Dougherty will bid to qualify for his fourth successive Open Championship at Sunningdale today - just 24 hours after missing his opportunity of victory at the Celtic Manor Wales Open.

The Shaw Hill professional had gone into yesterday’s final round at the European Tour event in joint first position after an encouraging round of 70 on Saturday.

But Dougherty endured a nightmare fourth day as a 79, which included seven bogeys and one triple bogey, saw him slip to three over par and tied 37th position.

The former QEGS pupil today goes into the 36-hole international final qualifying for the Open, needing to finish in the top 10 from the 96-man field to reach July’s championship at Turnberry.

Dougherty has not qualified automatically this year after slipping outside the top 30 in the 2008 European Tour Order of Merit.