After tasting the Open Championship for the first time at St Andrew's a year ago, Warwickshire amateur Robert Steele was hoping for a second bite at Royal Liverpool next week.

But the youngster from Kenilworth, who does most of the his practising at the Marriott Forest of Arden, was instead left rueing the harshness of there only being three through from each of the four Local Final Qualifying courses.

Steele shot a second successive level-par 72 for 144 at West Lancashire, but that left him missing a tie for third place by just two shots. And it was a particular disappointment given the way he has mastered this track in the past, having broken the course record at West Lancs two years ago with a 66 in the Brabazon Trophy.

Instead, it was St Mellion's Nick Ludwell (140), Steele's playing partner Gary Lockerbie (141) and Yorkshireman Adam Frayne (142), who went on to book the miserly three places at Hoylake.

The next best Midlander after Steele at West Lancs was his fellow Kenilworth amateur Rory Kirwan who fell away after a promising 75 with a 79.

The Shropshire's James Busby improved on a first day 81 with a 75, to stand two shots clear of James Cookson from Rugeley's St Thomas's Priory. He slumped to an 84 to stand on the same 158 mark as Whittington Heath amateur Jarred McKnight, who shot a 78. But it was another forgettable day for the Forest of Arden's Darryl Gwilliam, whose 80 was only a marginal improvement on his first day 84 for 164.

Joint overnight leader Graeme Storm slumped to a 79 after a simply bizarre finishing stretch [2014]a double-bogey at the 13th, a quadruple bogey two holes later, a double bogey seven on the next, a birdie two at the 17th and then holed a 99-yard pitch to the last for an eagle two.

At Formby, former Walker Cup player Jim Payne and Andrew Marshall led the way on 139, ahead of North Foreland's Darren Parris (140).

The nearest Midland challenger here was Mark Mouland, who improved on his first day 74 with a one-under 71. But The Belfry's Kevin Hale fell away after his first day 73 with a 76.

Worfield's Steven Russell bettered his opening 78 with a 74, while former Sandwell Park amateur Richard Prophet, now based at Shifnal, at least improved on his first day 81 with a 75. But Stoneleigh's Matt McGuire was adrift after a second successive 78.

At Wallasey, Englishmen Danny Dennison and Gary Day qualified on 139, ahead of Austrian Markus Brier on 142. But the best two Midlanders were Kings Norton amateur and Evesham's Daniel Clee, who both improved on an opening 77 with a 75.

Two shots worse off were Patshull Park amateur Craig Simmons and Hawkstone Park's Michael Welch on 154, while The Belfry's David Fulcher at least improved on his first day 82 with a 78.