Only five make it through regionals

9:18am Thursday 3rd July 2008

ONLY five of the region's Open championship hopefuls progressed through from regional qualifying yesterday.

Morpeth's David Clark and South Moor's Hugh MacDonald led the way by carding 69s at the Goswick course, near Berwick, where 11 qualified last night.

Teesside's Vince Guest, and Seaton Carew's James Harper were a shot further back, while Middlesbrough's Jonathan Lupton's 71 at Pannal, near Harrogate, was enough to get him through.

Michael Archer, representing Newcastle United, made it on to the reserve list with his 71 at Goswick.

At Pannal, Eaglescliffe professional Graeme Bell was unable to repeat the heroics that clinched a local qualifying spot 12 months ago, carding a 73.

The five qualifiers are now waiting to learn which of the qualifying venues they will face when 96-strong fields compete on July 7/8 at both the Hillside, West Lancashire, and Southport & Ainsdale.

There will only be four places at The Open on offer at each of those courses.

SCORES - BERWICK, Qualified: David Clark (Morpeth) 69, Hugh MacDonald (South Moor) 69, Vince Guest (Teesside) 70, James Harper (Seaton Carew) 70. Reserve: Michael Archer (Newcastle United) 71. Non-qualifiers: Callum Tarren (Dinsdale Spa) 72, Andrew Paisley (Matfen Hall) 72, Andrew Baston (Ponteland) 72, Chris McDonnell (Hexham) 72, Martyn Jobling (Morpeth) 73, Ben Taylor (Hexham) 73, Sam Oliver (Slaley Hall) 73, Adam Best (Cleveland) 73, Ricky Lee (Tyneside) 74, Craig Johnson (South Moor) 74, Will Crelin (Ingleby Barwick) 74, Gary Vickers (Tyneside) 75, Jonathan Greenwood (Close House) 75, Richard Mason (Durham City) 76, Daniel Shevill (Prudhoe) 76, Michael Curry (Brancepeth Castle) 76, Andrew Bell (Durham City) 76, Brandon Bailey (Ponteland) 77, Martyn Stubbings (Dinsdale Spa) 77, Steven Pearce (Romanby) 78, Martin Coup (Hexham) 78, Paul Fiddes (Matfen Hall) 79, Sean Heads (Hexham) 79, Alex Dobson (Wallsend) 80, James Atthey (Stokesley) NR, Stuart Brown (Castle Eden) SCR.

PANNAL, Qualified: Jonathan Lupton (Middlesbrough) 71.

Non-qualifiers: Darren Crowle (Chester-le-Street) 71, Noel Emmerson (Saltburn) 73, Graeme Bell (Eaglescliffe) 73, Tony Skingle (Scarborough South Cliff) 75, Simon Williamson (Whickham) 75, Michael Skelton (Wynyard) 75, John Parry (Harrogate) 75, Michael Henson (Bedale) 76, Tom Maddison (Castle Eden) 79, Neil Whinham (Whitburn) 80, James Whatmore (Wynyard) SCR, Tom Robinson (Wynyard) SCR.

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