COPFORD'S Connor Worsdall enjoyed a strong finish at the Open Championship.

The 23-year-old missed the cut at Royal St George's in Sandwich, after finishing on ten over par.

But Worsdall can nevertheless be proud of his efforts, in his first-ever Major.

Worsdall, who plays at the Essex Golf and Country Club, in Earls Colne, enjoyed a strong back nine in the second round.

After bogeys on the tenth and 11th holes, he then went on to finish with two birdies and five pars to finish with a three-over-par round of 73.

He had earlier shot one birdie, four pars and four bogeys, on the front nine.

On the opening day of the event, Worsdall had shot a round of 77.

His front nine on the challenging Royal St George's course was a mixture of pars and bogeys, along with a double bogey.

But he started his back nine with a birdie on the tenth and followed that up with six successive pars, before finishing with a bogey and a double bogey.

Worsdall finished above six-time Major winner Phil Mickelson, who finished on 12 over par.

He qualified for the showpiece competition after a superb performance in qualifying, earlier this month.

Worsdall had shot two-under-par in final qualifying at Prince's Golf Club in Sandwich to secure his spot.

After progressing through regional qualifying, he shot rounds of 67 and 75 at Prince's to book his place at the prestigious event.