Golfer Gidney's Open dream is over

The Open championship dreams of Shropshire golfer Jonathan Gidney are over for another year.

The 23-year-old from Church Stretton needed to finish in the top three at Ladybank in Scotland to progress through final qualifying and be in the field for the 150th staging of the Open at St Andrews next month.

But after a morning one-over-par round of 72 kept him in contention yesterday, he tailed away badly with an afternoon 78 to finish in a tie for 51st on eight-over-par.

Former Hawkstone Park professional Paul Wesslingh, now playing out of Kedleston Park in Derbyshire, finished on five-under-par after rounds of 70 and an afternoon 67 which included a hole-in-one.

But he suffered the despair of missing out in a four-man sudden death play-off for the final spot.