Open Final Qualifying live: amateurs chase the last 20 Birkdale tickets

This is the day the dream comes down to a single round. Final Qualifying for the 154th Open is being played across four venues on Tuesday 30 June — Burnham & Berrow, Dundonald Links, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire — with five places at each venue, a total of 20 tickets to Royal Birkdale, on the line. For the amateurs in the field, the next 18 holes are the difference between a summer at the Open and the long road back.

And two amateurs have put themselves right in the conversation.

🏴 Dundonald Links: Howard hits the front

Irish amateur David Howard is enjoying a superb afternoon at Dundonald Links, where he holds the outright lead at six under par. An eagle at the par-5 fifth, alongside birdies at the third and eighth, carried him to the top of the standings. He leads a four-strong chasing group — Andrew Wilson, Matthew Baldwin, Jack McDonald and Marcus Plunkett — by two shots, with five Birkdale places available at the venue.

🇪🇸 Burnham & Berrow: de Castro Piera sets the target

Spanish amateur Alejandro de Castro Piera has posted a strong clubhouse number of eight under par at Burnham & Berrow, where conditions are toughening through the afternoon. He sits tied for the lead with Americans Caleb Surratt and Austen Truslow, with a cluster of players one or two back as the top five battle for the qualifying spots. He will now hope his total holds up.