Several Kent players have made it through to final qualifying for this year’s 152nd Open.
Close to 2,000 players have been competing for a place at Royal Troon in this year’s qualifiers.
Regional qualifying took place at 15 courses across Great Britain and Ireland on Monday with seven places on offer for final qualifying from the event at Rochester & Cobham Park.
A seven-way play-off determined two of those final slots.
Final qualifying takes place on Tuesday, July 2 over four courses – including Royal Cinque Ports – where a minimum of 16 players will claim their place at Royal Troon for the 152nd Open which takes place between July 14-21.
Royal Blackheath’s professional Freddie Price led the field at Rochester & Cobham with an eight-under-par 63.
Price finished ahead of Thanet’s Max Orrin (the Drift) and Canterbury’s Josh Bristow, a PGA trainee at Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey.
Faversham’s Robin Wells and Rochester & Cobham’s head professional Warren Wood are also through after finishing four-under-par.
The next seven were tied on three-under which meant a play-off for the final two places.
Nevill Golf Club’s Jonathan Exon-Taylor and Chart Hills’ Nicholas Olson both won through.
Among those missing out in the play-off were Matt Ford and a trio of home golfers in Jack Lee, amateur Luke Jenkins and Jordan Godwin.
Sene Valley’s William Partner was also among the seven in the play-off, just missing out.
Canterbury senior teaching pro Richard Wallis failed to make the cut after shooting a two-under-par 69 to finish tied for 13th in the field of 129 chasing the seven qualifying spots.
