Liam Nolan, the amateur golfer from Galway, has earned a spot in the Open Championship at Troon in fortnight, after finishing joint second in the final qualifiers at Dundonald Links. Nolan, who played in the previous year’s Walker Cup at St Andrews, achieved a five-under-par total with round scores of 69 and 70. His scores were enough to earn him a place in the Major championship, being amongst the top four qualifiers from the Scottish course.
England’s Sam Hutsby topped the qualifier, shooting 67 and 69 for an eight-under-par total, while Spain’s Angel Hidalgo matched Nolan’s score of five under. Throughout the two rounds, Nolan made seven birdies, countering two bogeys – one in the second round’s 16th hole, which kept him cautiously eyeing the qualifying positions. However, two crucial par putts on the final two holes from six and five feet ensured his debut Major tournament.
In the Dundonald qualifier, another amateur, Max Kennedy from Royal Dublin, was at joint 12th post rounds of 72 and 73. During a separate qualifier at Burnham and Berrow, Irish golfer Niall Kearney placed tied eighth while Justin Rose appeared set to secure one of the four places. In contrast, Graeme McDowell didn’t qualify from Royal Cinque Ports, ending tied 19th with rounds of 72 and 73.
Over at West Lancashire, Sergio Garcia narrowly missed the cut, ending tied sixth with rounds of 71 and 70, just a stroke ahead of the K Club’s Liam Grehan. The round was topped by English golfers Matthew Dodd-Berry and Sam Horsfield with six under.