PAUL Dwyer's hopes of competing in a second successive Open Championship were dealt a major blow after he shot 77 in the first round of final qualifying yesterday.

Nelson amateur John Cockroft is level par on 72 at St Annes, while Pleasington's Daniel Lord shot level par 72 at Southport & Ainsdale. Burnley's Simon Eaton is three over on 75 at St Annes.

But Pleasington professional Ged Furey kept the flag flying for East Lancashire with a three-under total of 71 at Fairhaven.

The second and concluding rounds were set to take place today ahead of the start of the Championship at Royal Lytham St Annes on Thursday.

Clitheroe-attached pro Dwyer, who lives in Read, had a nightmare start at Southport & Ainsdale and was four over par after just three holes.

"I was on the back foot from there and never really found my game," said the 27-year old, who finished five over.

"I hit a bad tee shot off the second and double bogeyed that one and then on the third I hit it in the rough, went into some bushes and that was another double bogey."

It has been a bad week for Dwyer, who wasn't even planning to compete in this year's Open.

But after bowing out of Challenge Tour event the Finnish Open on Friday -- he missed the cut by seven shots -- he decided to return home and try his luck at the qualifying for the Open for the second year running.

"I didn't play well in Finland and I haven't played well here," he said.

"I have had three bad rounds in a row and maybe I need some practice. I have had a good run in the last eight or nine weeks, the game has been good to me. It seems to have disappeared at the wrong time though."

Fortunately for Dwyer, the nightmare in Finland has not affected his Challenge Tour ranking. He still lies 16th with 16 events to play. A top 15 finish guarantees him a European Tour card next season.

Nelson amateur John Cockroft shot a level-par 72 at St Annes Old Links to keep his hopes of qualifying alive.

But he bemoaned the slow pace of play.

"I was right at the back end of the field and it was taking five hours to get round. I'm not used to that," said the 21-year-old, who teed off for the second round at 9.40am this morning. "I'm not disappointed, though. I didn't do anything disastrous but I didn't do anything spectacular either. I kept it in play and gave myself a chance. I think I will need a 67 or 68 in the second round to have a chance but it will be easier because of the earlier start. It will be nice to get momentum going."

Pleasington-attached pro Daniel Lord shot a level-par 72 at Southport & Ainsdale which, he says, 'could have been better'.

"I think I may have had to shoot one or two better to be right in the thick of things but at least I haven't shot myself in the foot," said the 27-year-old, who was due to tee off for the second round at 11.45am this morning.

"I had three or four birdies and a few bogies, I just have to repeat that in the second round -- without the bogies."

Burnley's Simon Eaton was disappointed to finish three over at St Annes with a total of 75.

But he has scored a seven-under-par 65 there before and he knows he will need another performance like that to have a chance of getting through.

"I need to shoot seven or eight under to have even the slightest chance, but even with eight under I would only be five under over two rounds and that might not be good enough," he said.

"I shot seven under there last year but whether I can do it again is another matter."

Eaton's three over par could have been much worse -- he was six over with three holes to go.

"I finished with three birdies so it could have been a lot worse," said the 25-year-old.

"I had a double bogey on the fifth. I went out of bounds which cost me two shots and I missed a few short putts.

"And on the last two holes I was putting for eagles on par fives."

Furey, 40, lies in joint 14th position at Fairhaven and has put himself in a good position to qualify for the second time in his career.