A member of The Essex Golf and Country Club has qualified for the British Open at Carnoustie.

Jon Bevan hit two rounds of 68 at the Montrose course to qualify by the skin of his teeth for the prestigious event.

His six-under par total saw him qualify by just one stroke.

Among the other leading players qualifying at Montrose yesterday were Swedish Ryder Cup player Per-Ulrik Johansson, Andrew Sherborne and New Zealand's Michael Long.

But Colne Valley's Paul Curry and Steve Cipa, Clacton's Andy Duffin and Lee Cocker, from The Essex, all failed to make the grade.

Bevan, who was yesterday practising at Carnoustie, will rub shoulders with some of the world's best golfers at the tournament, which starts on Thursday.

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