Shropshire golf quartet miss Open spots

Shropshire's quartet of Open Championship hopefuls all fell short in the quest to reach golf's third Major of the year.

Shrewsbury-born Scott Drummond came closest to claiming one of the 12 spots on offer for Lytham in two weeks time – the top three from four venues progressed – at local final qualifying yesterday.

Drummond carded rounds of 71 and 69 for a four-under-par total at Southport & Ainsdale, but only enough for a share of sixth spot and two shots outside a play-off.

Ludlow's Oliver Farr headed into his final seven of his 36 holes at West Lancashire on three-under-par and needing to pick up a further two shots to make the play-off.

But Farr bogeyed the 12th and 17th and ended in a tie for tenth on one-under with a 72 and 71.

Shifnal-born Ryder Cup star Peter Baker carded identical scores at Hillside to leave him one-under and eighth, five shots off the top three positions.

Hawkstone Park's England amateur international Ashley Chesters was in a tie for 31st after two rounds of 74.

Chesters didn't recover from a triple bogey six at the 10th hole in the morning.

Former Ryder Cup pair Barry Lane and Paul Broadhurst, aged 52 and 46 respectively, have both made it back into the Open Championship.

Broadhurst's round of 63 at St Andrews in 1990 has still to be bettered in any major.