British Open Qualifying:David Higgins may have rushed from British Open qualifying in time to get back for tomorrow's Irish PGA Championship, but after hours of wondering, the Waterville pro can complete his journey across the Irish Sea and tee it up at The European Club in Wicklow safe in the knowledge he has also booked his place at Turnberry next week.
Higgins was one of 12 Irishmen who set out with dreams of advancing from the R&A’s local final qualifying across three venues in Ayrshire. Higgins’ 36-hole adventure took place over Glasgow Gailes, where the former European Tour card holder opened with a 70 yesterday before moving up to joint third with today’s two-under 69 for a three-under-139 aggregate.
The 36-year-old, who competes mainly on the domestic Irish PGA circuit these days, traded bogey with birdie at the third and fourth before the real prospect of qualification emerged with an eagle two at the short 307-yard par four ninth to turn in two-under 34.
The Kerryman’s back nine had striking similarities to yesterday’s inward half as he double-bogeyed the short 12th but then recouped with birdies at the next two holes for the second day running. From there he parred in to secure his place in the 138th British Open, where an out-of-sorts Pádraig Harrington is attempting to win three Opens in a row.
A total of 288 players teed it up across three Ayrshire venues in the hope of booking their place at next week’s showpiece. However, with only 12 spots, four from each venue, the margins the players operated from were slim at best. In effect, only the top four per cent will qualify.
At the same venue Jerry Scullion, who won the Irish Regional Qualifying at Royal Dublin last week, failed in his attempt after the Royal County Down pro crashed and burned with a second consecutive 79.
Limerick’s Pat Murray, this year’s Irish Close champion, shot a fine 73 for a six-over 148 aggregate but it won’t be good enough to qualify. Another amateur, James Fox, also failed to qualify after today’s 75 left the Portmarnock golfer 12-over (154).
Veteran Ronan Rafferty failed to roll back the years as the 45-year-old former European number one (1989) added a second round 77 to his opening 72.
South Africa’s Thomas Aiken topped the pile at Glasgow Gailes with rounds of 69, 67 for a six-under 136 aggregate. Another Ryder Cup veteran Peter Baker (69) was second on four-under, while Elliot Saltman (72) joined Higgins in joint third.
At Western Gailes, where the Irish team famously won the European Team Championship in 2007, there was no success from an Irish standpoint. Douglas pro Peter O’Keeffe shot 72 to finish tied ninth on level par (142), while Daniel Sugrue added a 76 to his opening 77.
Sweden’s Hed Andersson won at Western with rounds of 70, 67 for a five-under 137 total. England’s Steve Surry (72) was a shot further back on four-under, while Surry’s compatriots, Thomas Haylock (67) and Daniel Wardrop (68), shared third on two-under.
At Kilmarnock Barassie, Clandeboye’s Jonathan Caldwell dropped down the field to two-under after a 74, while The Island’s David Rawluk finished four-over with his 73. Baltray amateur Simon Ward shot 77 to be a shot further back than Rawluk. Andrew Hogan’s attempt came up short after the Newlands amateur didn’t return a score in today’s second round.
The four qualifiers from Barassie were Austria’s Markus Brier, who led with rounds of 64, 66 for a 16-under 130 aggregate. Scotland’s Lloyd Saltman (70), brother to Elliot, Australia’s Daniel Gaunt (67) and Denmark’s Peter Ellebye took the other three spots after finishing 10-under.
Higgins will now travel to Turnberry where he will join defending champion Harrington, who is also playing at The European, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Damien McGrane.
