Three-time British Mid-Am Champion
SAINT ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (July 8, 2005) --
Robert Dinwiddie celebrated his selection for the Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team with a round of 65 at Alwoodley to lead the regional qualifiers for The Open Championship by five shots. And it was amateur players who led the way at eight of the 16 courses where more than 1,800 players were trying to win their way into The Open. Leading qualifiers will now take part in Local Final Qualifying on July 9-10.
At Ashridge three-time Mid-Amateur champion John Kemp shared the lead on 68 with fellow amateur Tom Lawson from Ellesborough.
Mark Laskey, an amateur from Brocket Hall, finished at the head of the field at Hadley Wood with a 66 and will be joined in Local Final Qualifying by another amateur, Luke Collins from Mendip Spring, who had the same score at Minchinhampton.
At Pleasington Michael Hunt added to the amateur tally with a 65 around his home course to lead the field by five shots while Mark Kerr from the Dalmahoy Hotel was another amateur winner at Renfrew with a 66, where eight of the nine leading scores came from amateur players.
The amateur total was rounded out at Silloth on Solway where Scott Jamieson from Cathkin Braes took the lead with a 65, and at The Island where Michael McGeady's 70 put him at the head of the field.
The leading scores at the other eight regional qualifying venues were: Hindhead - Mark Treleaven (Hayling) 64; Little Aston - Simon Griffiths (Wentworth) 68; Notts - Phil Edwards (Notts) 72, Jim Payne (Southport & Ainsdale) 72, Richard Squire (New Zealand) 72, Craig Swinburn (Notts) 72,
James Whatley (Morley Hayes) 72;Orsett - Paul Curry (Braintree) 68; Prestbury - Frank Bibby (Wilmslow) 68; Rochester & Cobham Park - Charlie Gold (Tidworth) 67; Royal Ashdown Forest - Jamie Harris (Nevill) 69, Kieran Staunton (Woodcote Park) 69; Trentham - James Cookson (Whittington Heath) 68, Simon Vale (Whittington Heath) 68.
ABOUT THE British Open
The most coveted trophy in the game and one
of the most iconic in all of sport: more
commonly referred to as the Claret Jug.
Within
minutes of winning the British Open, the
"Champion Golfer of the Year" gets his name
engraved on that cup, and a place in golfing
history.
Amateurs have played an
important role in the tournament over the
years, with players like Sergio Garcia, Justin
Rose, and more recently Alfie Plant stepping
into the international limelight with their
golfing
performances.
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