Hertfordshire professional Callum Shinkwin qualified for the Open Championship at Royal Troon after enjoying a high finish at the French Open in Paris.
The former Walker Cup player shot a final round 68 to finish on two-under-par and secure his first appearance in a Major championship. The 23-year-old winner of the 2013 English and South American amateur championships carded four birdies and just the one dropped shot to finish tied ninth and book his place at Troon.
“Apart from a three-putt on the 12th, I palyed great all day,” said Shinkwin,” whose home club is Moor Park. “Everyone from Great Britain and Ireland wants to play in their home Major. I’ve watched it almost every year since I was a kid, so to finally play in it is a dream come true for me.”
Shinkwin was one of four players to earn their ticket to The Open via the Open de France, with South Africans Brandon Stone and Richard Sterne also in the mix, along with Sweden’s Alex Noren.
Stone, who is in his first season as a professional, said: “One of my goals this year was to play my first major, I’m very, very excited about it. I got lucky on countless occasions this week so to get this out of everything is really quite special. Growing up, I watched The Open on TV from the first shot to the last. It’s a tournament I hold very dear to my heart and over the last few years I’ve really strived to try to get into it. To get that result in the end is obviously mission accomplished.”