DISASTER overtook Chris Hanson almost before he got into his stride in the Open Championship regional qualifier at Alwoodley yesterday.
The Crosland Heath man ran up an ugly eight at the par four 305yards second hole and thereafter had a battle on his hands, which proved too much as he carded a four over par 75, four strokes above the mark on which seven men played off for the last five of ten places.
"I got my yardage wrong and hit a 9-iron approach to the second through the green and out of bounds then, thinking I had hit that shot too hard I hit another 9-iron and that suffered the same fate,"said Hanson, who grabbed a couple of birdies on the back nine to no avail.
Hanson's fellow Europro Tour player James Mason, from Rotherham, shot a brilliant 66 to head the ten qualifiers who now go to the final qualifying in Scotland on July 6-7.
Qualifiers:
66 - J Mason (Rotherham).
70 - D McCarthy (Moortown), M Armitage (Howley Hall), K Hutton (Downfield), *P Latimer (St Andrews New).
71 - J Green (Alwoodley), G Tucker (Boothferry), D Greenwood (Forest Pines), R Golding (Germany), *M Rogers (Hazel Grove).
Non qualifiers included: 71 (after play-off) - M Hedge (Hesketh), P Gresswell (Germany). 73 - D Rands (Willow Valley). 75 - C Hanson (Crosland Heath), G Murray (Queensbury). 76 - D Arber (West End). 86 - P Young (Willow Valley)
* Denotes amateur
Lee Shepherd (Willow Valley) carded 76 to miss out at Lindrick.
FIXBY'S Ben Johnson grabbed one of the last qualifying places in the Yorkshire Amateur championship at Pannal yesterday to join Meltham teenager Jamie Bower in today's match-play first round.
Chris Dyson, well placed after the first round with 71, was among a bunch of locals to miss out on the 32 places for the head to head knockout stage.
