Play underway at British Open qualifier
Australasian PGA Tour | 2009 British Open International Final Qualifying | Round One | 10 Feb 2009
Play is underway at International Final Qualifying (IFQ) at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne Australia, where by days end three players will have earned a place at this year’s Open Championship.
A field of 44 players is contesting 36 holes today with the top three earning a place at the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry in July. The field consists of 41 Australians, two New Zealanders and Damian Ulrich of Switzerland.
Play began this morning at 7:15am with Craig Parry taking to the course in the first group. The popular Sydneysider is the most experienced in the field having competed in 18 Open Championships, one more than compatriot Peter Senior who is also competing today. Senior will tee off in the last of the morning groups alongside Victorian Alistair Presnell at 9:54am with the round expected to finish around 2:10pm.
Others on course today include Peter Fowler, who has successfully qualified for the Open Championship three times through IFQ, last year’s leading qualifier Andrew Tampion and Peter O’Malley, winner of seven international tournaments.
Recent Subaru Victorian Open Champion Ashley Hall leads the local contingent along with Scott Laycock and Craig Scott, runner’s up at the Victorian Open and last year’s Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Champion Tim Wood.
Paul Sheehan, winner of the 2006 Jacob’s Creek Open as well as numerous Japan Tour titles heads the interstate contenders alongside NSW Open Champion Aaron Townsend, 2005 Jacob’s Creek Open Champion Queensland’s Steven Bowditch and young West Australian Stephen Dartnell who most notably finished tied in third place at the 2008 Australian Open alongside Robert Allenby and David Smail.
Source – PGA Tour
