The Open Championship Regional Qualifying Scoring And Live Updates: Into Second Half Of The Day As Over 2,000 Golfers Hunt Spot At Golf's Oldest Major

SINGH BRAR FINISHES ONE-UNDER

Jack Singh Brar has won on the Challenge Tour and played on the DP World Tour for a number of years. The Englishman finishes one-under at Ferndown, which currently puts him in a tie for sixth position. A total of nine places are up for grabs, so there could well be a playoff in Dorset.

TIGHT AT CRAIGIELAW

There are eight places up for grabs at Craigielaw but, right now, eight players find themselves in a share of third spot. There's potential for an 8-for-6 playoff, depending on how the late runners get on.

FINCH MOVES TO TWO-UNDER

What a performance this is from Peter Finch! Playing the par 4 16th at Caldy, the YouTube star puts his approach close and rolls it in for birdie. He is now two-under, which is leading the event.

HEATING UP AT CALDY

A name like Tim Ford in a sport like golf could lead to endless puns. I'm going to behave and not make any, you'll be relieved to hear. To the matter at hand, Ford has joined the lead at Caldy after an even-par 72.

It appears as though it is significantly tougher on the front nine in the north-west, with very few players finding birdies easy to come by. Ford is no different and was actually three-over at the turn with a double-bogey six at the ninth.

Down but not out, he powered back with four birdies to take advantage of the course's scoring side and possibly book his place in Final Qualifying.

A PLUMB DRAW

Thomas Plumb enjoyed a fantastic round at Bearwood Lakes today and is now in a share of first alongside John Gough on three-under. One of very few eagles today arrived at his second hole while Plumb went on to make the turn in just 34 strokes.

Four birdies in his final six holes helped him turn back in 35 and post a number that will likely seal a very positive future for the Englishman.

NERVOUS WAIT

Joshua Willington was three-under after nine holes at North Hants GC but suffered a birdie-free three-over back nine to slip back into a share of third along with three others. The English am will now face a pretty anxious wait to see whether he is one of the nine players who scores a Final Qualifying spot at that site.

FRAZER INTO FIRST

English amateur, Frazer Jones has made his mark at Lindrick by posting a brilliant three-under 67 to move into first place on the leaderboard.

Jones - who is a member at Kirby Muxloe - only suffered one bogey in his round, and that came at the par-4 second hole. Since then, four birdies fired him to the top and likely mean he can look forward to a 36-hole run next Tuesday.

MARSH JOINS HESKETH LEAD

No one has posted an even-par (or better) score at Hesketh yet, but Huddersfield's Nick Marsh has gone close to join the lead. Marsh recorded three birdies down the back nine to sign for a one-over 72 and put one foot into Final Qualifying.

LOCAL LAD HAS A CHANCE

Caldy's Sam Johnston has just posted a two-over 74 to join two others in a tie for fourth at his local club. The English amateur birdied three of his final six holes to pick up momentum at just the right time!

SIX BECOMES SEVEN

You're not gonna believe this... The six-way tie for second at Craigielaw has become a seven-way tie! Scottish amateur, Euan MacDonald bogeyed 17 before making birdie at 18 to give himself a chance of progressing.

At the moment, everyone is through as they are. However, should one more person score better than three-over in the remaining groups (every chance), we will be heading for a big ol' playoff.

BOWNESS COMES UP CLUTCH

Newbury & Crookham's Harry Bowness has produced a dream back nine at North Hants Golf Club to give himself a great chance of edging through to Final Qualifying.

Having made the turn in 38 - three strokes over par - Bowness produced a bogey-free 32 coming home to finish at even par and slide into T3rd. Dreamy.

HUGHES INTO A SHARE

Fraser Hughes has joined the ever-expanding group on two-over at Craigielaw in Scotland. The Gleneagles member was the latest to card a 73, but it could have been so much better if his opening 33 hadn't been followed up by a 40. He's one of six in a share of second with eight places at Final Qualifying on the line there.

SPRINT TO THE LINE

American amateur, Ian Fritz has joined the party at Bearwood Lakes via a brilliant run towards the line. Posting one-under to share second with Curtis Knipes, Fritz birdies 15, 16 and 17 before making bogey at 18. Par at the last would have taken him into solo second.

Still, a one-under total of 71 could easily still be enough.

OPPORTUNITY KNOX

There is a real logjam going on at Fulford with five players all at even par and nine spots in Final Qualifying available. Joe Knox is unlikely to have to worry about that, though, after making birdie at the 17th to reach one-under and tie the lead alongside Ollie White.

DINWIDDIE GETTING IT DONE

Robert Dinwiddie, three times a champion on the HotelPlanner Tour and three times an Open Championship appearance maker, has recorded a superb round of 68 (-3) at Ferndown to slot into solo second at the Bournemouth layout.

Born in Scotland but representing England, Dinwiddie will hope to make it over to Northern Ireland next week when Final Qualifying takes place on Tuesday.

His three-under score came about after he holed his second stroke on the par-4 18th hole. What a way to do it!

TAKING IT TO THE MAX

Caldy is proving a tough nut to crack today, but English amateur, Max Ranson has gone closest to breaking par thanks to a sparkling even-par 72 on the 6,726-yard layout. That's enough to give him the lead and likely see him into Final Qualifying.

FINCH IS FLYING

Sometimes, it's better to be lucky than good. Peter Finch might well believe that right now. Mind you, he's quite good as well. You have to be in order to make an eagle. And that's exactly what the YouTuber has done at Caldy's 11th hole.

He's two-under now and feeling good. Check out the fist pump after his eagle putt lands.

FOUR-TIME EUROPEAN TOUR WINNER IN GOOD POSITION

Marc Warren is a four-time winner on what is now the DP World Tour, but historic achievements count for nothing out here. It's every golfer for themselves and they all start on even par - that's the beauty of it.

Even so, the Scot has put himself in a great position to make Final Qualifying courtesy of a one-under 71 at Kilmarnock (Barassie). He's T2nd with seven spots up for grabs at that site.

WALKER CUP STAR FINISHES STRONG

James Ashfield represented GB&I at the 2023 Walker Cup and he could be one step closer to representing himself at the 153rd Open Championship.

Ashfield birdied the 18th at Caldy to move into a share of second with a two-over-par total of 74. Still no one has broken par in the north-west...

NUMBER OF SPOTS CONFIRMED

Now that all players have teed off at each of the 15 local qualifying sites, we now know how many Final Qualifying spots are available.

There are as follows:

Bearwood Lakes - (9 places)

Caldy - (9 places)

Craigielaw - (8 places)

Enville - (9 places)

Ferndown - (9 places)

Frilford Heath - (9 places)

Fulford - (9 places)

Gog Magog - (9 places)

Hesketh - (9 places)

Kilmarnock (Barassie) - (7 places)

Lindrick - (7 places)

Moor Park - (9 places)

North Hants - (9 places)

Rochester & Cobham Park - (9 places)

The Island - (10 places)

CURTIS CUTS THROUGH

There are nine Final Qualifying places available at Bearwood Lakes, and it appears as though Curtis Knipes is going to take one of them thanks to a one-under 71.

The Hanbury Manor pro has slotted into second place on the leaderboard, two strokes behind Berkshire's John Gough, and can probably start planning for where he might head next Tuesday.

TEENAGE TALENT

Among the amateurs in action today is 16-year-old Dominic Harrington at Ferndown. A member at the Bournemouth golf club, Harrington is exhibiting his local knowledge to stay at level par through the first third of his round.

Ferndown's leader is currently, Jake Burnage on four-under. Meanwhile, there is a log-jam of three players at two-under-par.

HUGHES TOPS TABLE AT HESKETH

What a brilliant round from amateur, Tom Hughes at Hesketh. The Formby man has travelled over to Southport and punched in a very respectable one-over-par 72 which takes him into the lead ahead of Wales' Luke Harries and fellow English amateur, Greg Holmes of Royal Birkdale.

Three birdies and four bogeys on the day - including a gain at the par-5 17th - could be enough for Hughes.

PETER FINCH UPDATE

The YouTube star is going along well at Caldy. He is currently one-under through seven holes.

That is made even more impressive when you consider no one has broken par yet at Caldy on The Wirral. The co-leaders are one-over-par.

ACE ALERT

This was a few hours ago now, but Jack Yule of Kings Lynn recorded an ace while making his way through Gog Magog. His heroic moment arrived at the fourth hole and gave him a moment to remember forever.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to help him through to Final Qualifying as he finished with a two-over 72, sitting in a tie for 17th currently.

JOHNSTON TAKES THE LEAD AT KILMARNOCK

James Donaldson had been leading for a while at Kilmarnock (Barassie), but he has now been overtaken by Liam Johnston, who cards a three-under 69 to move two clear. Excellent round from the Scotsman.

WILL OVER-PAR BE ENOUGH?

Currently, the wind is playing havoc at some of the venues and, looking at the scores, over-par is still leading at some courses.

At Caldy, no player has shot under-par, with George Holland and Caolan Burford leading at one-over. Hesketh is another venue where over-par is leading, this time being Luke Harries and Greg Holmes (A) at two-over.

CLARIDGE JUMPS TO SECOND

James Claridge produces a three-under 69 at Enville, meaning he jumps into solo second and one back of OJ Farrell. The final group are just about to get underway at the West Midlands course.

GOUGH STAYING PUT AT THE TOP

Gough was one of the first players out at Bearwood Lakes on Monday and, following his three-under 69, he has remained on top of the leaderboard ever since.

The Englishman was the 36-hole leader at the British Masters a few years ago, and also played in the 2023 Walker Cup, enjoying two wins and two losses in the process.

TATE JUMPS TO SECOND

Robert Harrhy leads at Frilford Heath following a six-under 66 and, just 15 minutes later, Will Tate fires a three-under 69 to sit solo second.

CONGESTED LEADERBOARDS

A number of spots are available for next weeks Final Qualifying and, looking at some of the leaderboards, we could be in for a tight finish.

At Craigielaw, five players are in a share of second at two-over-par, while three players are tied second at level-par in Fulford. At Rochester & Cobham, four players are in second at two-under-par.

HARRHY GOES LOW AT FRILFORD HEATH

Excellent round from Robert Harrhy, who has just posted a six-under 66 at his home golf club of Frilford Heath. Superb stuff from the Englishman, who leads by four shots.

FINCH MOVES TO ONE-UNDER

KIM GETS UNDERWAY

Kris Kim is a future star and, at 17-years-old, he has already made a cut on the PGA Tour. Playing at Bearwood Lakes, he has just got his round underway alongside Pavan Sagoo and Lewis Blair.

ROUNDS OF THE DAY

There have been some fine scores so far this afternoon, with the stand-outs being Nya Fraser-Lawrence's five-under at Moor Park, OJ Farrell's four-under round at Enville and Jake Burnage's four-under 67 at Ferndown.

TURNELL GOES LOW AT NORTH HANTS

Amateur, Freddie Turnell, cruises to the top of the leaderboard at North Hants, with the Englishman producing a four-under 66 to lead by three in Hampshire

HIGH 5 FOR FRASER-LAWRENCE

Excellent golf from Nya Fraser-Lawrence at Moor Park. The Englishman produces a five-under 67 to lead by two shots.

Behind Fraser-Lawrence is Adam Batty and Habebul Islam, who both fired three-under 69s in Hertfordshire.

UPDATE FROM THE ISLAND

Rowan Lester and Brendan McCarroll are one-under-par at The Island, with both men leading the field. Scoring has been low in Dublin, with just the pair breaking par in Ireland.

BURNAGE LEADS AT FERNDOWN

There had been a three-way tie at the top at Ferndown, with three players sat at two-under. However, Jake Burnage has just fired in a four-under 67 to lead by two at the Dorset venue.

LAWRENCE GOES LOW AT NORTH HANTS

We have a new leader at North Hants, with Lawrence Courtney firing a one-under 69 to lead and become the first player to break par.

FANTASTIC FARRELL

We have our round of the day, so far, and it comes from OJ Farrell.

Playing Enville, the Englishman produces a four-under 68 to take the lead by two shots from Jack South, who earlier carded a two-under 70. Both men are the only players under-par at the West Midlands venue.

WHITE UNDER-PAR AT FULFORD

We have our first under-par round at Fulford and it comes courtesy of Ollie White, who cards a one-under round to top the leaderboard.

He is one clear of Will Marshall and Connor McKinney, who are level and in a share of second spot.

GOOD LUCK PETER FINCH

The YouTube star is an Open Qualifying regular and, during his round, there will be live tweeting of his progress. Finch is playing at Caldy and is level-par through two.

PARKER LEADS AT NORTH HANTS

No-one is yet to break par at North Hants, with Ben Parker just finishing his round to top the leaderboard at one-over. The Englishman leads Kevin Esteve by one stroke.

HOW MANY QUALIFY FROM EACH VENUE?

Currently, it's just gone past 1pm here in the UK and, with play well underway, you may wonder how many players qualify from each venue?

Well, as of now, that number won't be confirmed until every player has tee'd off at all 15 courses. Looking around the country the majority of the final tee times will be around 2.30pm, so once we know we shall update you.

TOUR PLAYERS APLENTY AT REGIONAL QUALIFYING

SCORES FLYING IN

With hundreds of scores already in, the stand-out rounds include John Gough at Bearwood Lakes, who fired a three-under 69 to comfortably sit top of the standings there.

Jack South carded a two-under 70 at Enville, three players are two-under at Ferndown, while three players are three-under at Gog Magog. Bailey Gill's two-under round at Lindrick has him leading, as Max Jordan is top at Rochester & Cobham Park at three-under.

THE VENUES

As mentioned, 15 venues are in play up-and-down the UK, with these including Bearwood Lakes, Caldy, Craigielaw, Enville, Ferndown, Frilford Heath, Fulford, Gog Magog, Hesketh, Kilmarnock (Barassie), Lindrick, Moor Park, North Hants, Rochester & Cobham Park and The Island.

BIG NAMES IN THE FIELD

Regional Qualifying always throws up an array of names and, among those in the field, are the likes of Robert Rock, who has won twice on the DP World Tour.

Other names include Tour players Ashley Chesters, former Walker Cup player John Gough, Premier League soccer star Jimmy Bullard and YouTuber Peter Finch, so a real mix of players are on show across the 15 venues.

HELLO ALL

Good morning and afternoon all, and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of The Open Championship's Regional Qualifying where over 2000 golfers are attempting to make it into Final Qualifying next week.

Currently, 15 venues around the UK are staging the tournaments and, in this blog, we will do our best to take you through every score as they come in.

Some familiar faces are out on the course, so keep up to date with all the action here!