Tom Whitehouse's dreams of a place in next month's Open at St Andrews were dashed yesterday in cruel fashion as the 25-year-old from Maxstoke Park lost a five man play-off at Sunningdale.
Whitehouse, who plays on the Challenge Tour, recorded an impressive eight-underpar total on Monday in the 36-hole qualifier playing alongside Ian Woosnam to put himself firmly in contention for one of 14 spots at St Andrews.
But a bogey at the last meant Whitehouse tied with Kenneth Ferrie, David Geall, Henrik Stenson and Jean-Francois Lucquin on 136 - forcing all five players to return to Sunningdale at 8am yesterday for a play-off.
And it was Ferrie who holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the first hole to book his place at the Open alongside the Midland trio of Peter Baker, John Bickerton and Robert Rock, who all qualified on Monday.
Whitehouse has now flown to Madrid for his next Challenge Tour event, where he hopes to get over the disappointment of going so close to his first ever Open appearance.
He said: "I bogeyed the last on Monday to go into a playoff. I was just off the edge of the fairway with my drive and was a bit unlucky because my wedge to the green didn't stop.
"It would have been great for me to have got through but I have to take the positives.
"I played with Woosie and we had a big crowd watching us. People must have thought I was going to mess up playing with him but I probably surprised a few folks.
"I actually felt as though I played better than Woosie but the difference was he holed a couple more putts and holed a bunker shot."
Rock, from Tamworth, qualified by finishing on 135 - one shot ahead of Whitehouse to illustrate just how close the young professional was to earning a place at the famous Old Course links.
But while Whitehouse must be contemplating 'what if', Rock - who lost his European Tour card last season after finishing 125th on the order of merit - is eagerly anticipating his Open Championship debut.
The 28-year-old said: "I've tried Open qualifying for years and haven't got anywhere so I am really chuffed to have made it finally.
"I was quite keen to play at Sunningdale because I thought if I got through, the course at St Andrews would suit me.
"I struggle on a lot of links courses but St Andrews is not as tight as some other Open venues which is good because my driving accuracy is not what I would like.
"Hopefully I can go there and do well which would be fantastic because it is a really memorable place to play."
Baker, whose last Open appearance was at Muirfield in 2002, and Bickerton will also both be at next month's event despite struggling for form in recent years.
Baker lost his European Tour card last season and has been relying on invitations to tournaments but the 37-yearold from Wolverhampton shot 64 and 70 at Sunningdale.
He said: "To me the Open is the greatest sporting event in the world. I know I am biased, but St Andrews is always very, very special. I played with Arnold Palmer in his last Open there in 2000 and I am fed up watching it on television."
Bickerton's impressive 67 and 66 to finish 11-under-par is also a welcome tonic for the 35-year-old, whose recent slump in form has coincided with a divorce from Julie, his wife of ten years.
Paul Broadhurst and Jamie Elson, though, must look for another route into the Open
after they both shot 145 to finish well outside the top 14 at Sunningdale. If they are to join Broadhurst's fellow Atherstonian Steve Webster, who has already qualified for St Andrews after finishing in the top three of a mini-order of merit league after the BMW Championship in Germany, they will have to play in one of the regional qualifying events next Monday or a local last-chance on July 9 & 10.
* Kent's Sian Reddick will defend her title when the English Ladies' Strokeplay Championship is played at St Anne's Old Links from July 12-14.
The 20-year-old from Sene Valley heads a field of 120 players, which includes three former champions and a host of internationals.
She won last year's championship at Woodhall Spa by five shots, with a seven-under par total for the 72 holes.
A strong field includes internationals Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park).
