Golf

Irish amateur Paul Dunne qualifies for British Open

Greystones golfer wins final qualifier at Woburn after nearly missing tee time

Paul Dunne of Greystones in action during final qualifying for the British Open on the Marquess Couse at Woburn. The Irish amateur won the event to claim a place at Royal Liverpool later this month. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/R&A
Paul Dunne of Greystones in action during final qualifying for the British Open on the Marquess Couse at Woburn. The Irish amateur won the event to claim a place at Royal Liverpool later this month. Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/R&A
Tue Jul 01 2014 - 21:33

Irish amateur Paul Dunne capped a memorable week by securing a place at the British Open at Royal Liverpool after coming through final qualifying – although his hopes were nearly ended even before his round had begun.

The 21-year-old Greystones man , studying at the University of Alabama and a member of the victorious European Collegiate team which won the Palmer Cup against the United States opponents at Walton Heath at the weekend, arrived on the first tee at Woburn with just a minute to spare ahead of his opening round.

If the nerve-wracking start had affected him it did not show as he carded back-to-back 67s to post 10 under and claim one of three spots available at each of the four venues hosting qualifying.

“It gave me a bit of a fright. I misjudged the time it would take me to get from the clubhouse out to the 10th tee but fortunately I managed to hit my opening tee shot straight down the middle,” said Dunne.

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“It has been an incredible couple of days both here and at Walton Heath and it’s something I will never forget.

“This is the first time I have ever played in an event like this so I wasn’t sure what would be a good score.

“I just decided to press and see what happened and it turned out very well.”

European Tour professional Oliver Fisher came second on seven under with Welshman Rhys Enoch winning a three-man play-off at the first hole by chipping in from 25 feet for birdie to claim the final place.