FORMAT: 18-hole stroke play
Twenty-two years after he made it though Open Regional Qualifying for the first and only time, Cheshire county captain Jon Beesley did it again thanks to a bogey-free 67 at Caldy yesterday.
The 40-year-old Mere player’s five-under effort left him top at the Wirral venue, the leading nine making it through. Overall 142 players at 15 courses played their way into Final Qualifying on Tuesday June 28th when the incentive to have round of your life could not be bigger.
The top three at each of Fairmont St Andrews, Hollinwell, Prince’s and St Annes Old Links will contest the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews (July 15-17).
For Beesley his stunning effort rekindled memories of trying to make it to St Andrews. In 2000 the Home of Golf staged the Open and he was delighted to be just one step away again.
“It was nice today,” said the former Cheshire Matchplay champion. “I really enjoyed myself out there but the greens were like carpets. They were a pleasure to putt on.
“I’m a good putter so my plan was just to find the middle of the green on every hole and give myself as many chances as possible. Most of the pins were tucked away.”
Beesley used his driver on just two holes although on one of those occasions, a good smack down the par five fifth set up an eagle, rolling in a 20-footer to get to two under.
He kept the momentum going around the turn with a hat-trick of six-footers-for-par and then got to three under at 12 where he sunk another one from 20 feet.
At 16 he was faced with a 30-footer for birdie and was relieved and delighted to see it strike the middle of the pin and drop.
“It was going a bit pacy,” added Beesley. “It was heading about ten feet past so it was real bonus. Once I got to three under I thought that would probably be enough to qualify.”
There would be one more for the Cheshire stalwart at the par-five last where a tap-in four was set up by a bit of short-game magic.
“That was the best chip I have hit in a long time. It was on a really sandy lie so I just said to myself ‘don’t fat it or thin it’. It came off the club beautifully and went stiff.”
Beesley is hoping he next week plays at nearby St Annes Old Links. Players are asked for their preference although the R&A can’t offer any guarantees.
“I know the course quite well and obviously it is my closest venue. It’s going to probably take around eight under to do it but you just never know.”
The Mere player was one of four amateurs to finish top yesterday. The others were Southport & Ainsdale’s Jack McPhail (at Fairhaven), Nairn’s Sandy Scott (Panmure) and 15-year-old Roganstown junior Seán Keeling (County Louth), who shot a stunning seven-under 65 after bogeying the first.
For the full scores from all 15 qualifying venues click here