Walton qualifies for the Open

Ireland's Philip Walton booked his place at next week's British Open in Royal Birkdale after winning the Local Final Qualifying at West Lancashire Golf Club yesterday.

Walton has been without a European Tour card for several years and plays mainly on the domestic Irish PGA circuit these days. However the 46-year-old shot rounds of 72, 70 at West Lancashire, one of three qualifying venues where four places at each course were available. Walton's two-under par 142 aggregate saw the Dubliner comfortably lead the qualifying by three shots from Scotland's Barry Hume, his nearest challenger in second.

"This is one great course, the best links I've played. They still talk to me about the Ryder Cup in Ireland, but it's a long time ago and I'm looking forward to next week," said Walton before rushing to the airport to catch a flight home in time to tee it up in today's Irish PGA Championship at The European Club. Luckily he has an afternoon start (1.30pm).

The last time Walton played in the Open was in 1998, which by coincidence is the last time it was played at Royal Birkdale. A decade ago he finished tied 38th behind the winner Mark O'Meara.

Walton was the only player from 12 Irish hopefuls at local qualifying to earn his place in the Birkdale field. Peter O'Keeffe, Noel Fox , Daniel Sugrue and Mark O'Sullivan all fell short at the same venue as Walton.

At Southport & Ainsdale the Waterville duo of David Higgins and Mark Murphy came agonisingly close to qualification but missed out on the play-off by one shot. Higgins shot two level par 72s, while Murphy was left to rue yesterday's 74 after an opening 70. Tim Rice and Justin Kehoe finished four and six-over respectively at Southport where Chart Hills amateur Tom Sherreard topped the qualifying on three-under with rounds of 72, 69.

At the nearby Hillside Golf Club there was another veteran feel good story as Jean van de Velde booked his Open slot with rounds of 70 and 73. The Frenchman, remembered for his closing triple bogey to lose the 1999 Open at Carnoustie, tied second on one-under 143, three shots behind England's Jamie Elson. Ballyliffin's Brendan McCarroll, amateur David Rawluk from the Island and Skellig Bay's Mark Heinmann all missed out at Hillside.

Irish scores and totals at Local Final Qualifying for the British Open:

West Lancashire
Philip Walton 72, 70 (142), Peter O'Keeffe 73, 76 (149), Noel Fox 75, 77 (152), Daniel Sugrue 77, 77 (154), Mark O'Sullivan (did not finish)

Southport & Ainsdale
Mark Murphy 70, 74 (144) David Higgins 72, 72 (144), Tim Rice 76, 72 (148), Justin Kehoe 72, 78 (150)

Hillside
Brendan McCarroll 76, 74 (150), David Rawluk (a) 78, 77 (155), Mark Heinemann 81, 88 (169)