David Higgins and Justin Kehoe will make their Open debuts at Carnoustie next week following excellent second rounds in final qualifying that saw them both finish in the top three at Downfield and Montrose respectively.

The Waterville-based Higgins shot a seven under round of 66 to claim second spot on a total of nine under on the Dundee course from which Paul Lawrie emerged to win in 1999.

Scott Drummond claimed the final place after a four-way play-off with former European Tour player Mark Mouland, Farnham's Ben Willman and Sheffield amateur Adam Hodkinson, who would have gone through but for a bogey on the last in the final group.

At Montrose, Justin Kehoe claimed third, two shots behind joint-winners David Shacklady and Australian Matthew Zions.

Having carded a four-under 67 yesterday to lie second, Kehoe's 68 moved him to seven-under, just one ahead England's Sean Whiffin.

Shacklady shot a magnificent course-record 62 to finish alongside Zions in the 96-strong field.

Colm Moriarty, also playing at Montrose, missed his chance, however. A brilliant 65 was not enough to undo the damage of yesterday's 76.

Winner at Monifieth on eight under was 21-year-old David Coupland after a 65 that left him "absolutely speechless".

County player Coupland, from Boston in Lincolnshire, added: "This is the best thing I've ever done in my life.

"It's the first time I've tried to qualify and even though I came through the regional last week I wasn't expecting anything."

He had three birdies in the last four holes to finish one ahead of fellow amateurs Paul Waring, from Cheshire, and Welshman Llewellyn Matthews.

At Panmure Englishmen Kevin Harper and Steve Parry progressed alongside Kiwi Steven Alker on five-under-par.