A WELL-KNOWN pro from the North-East has memories that will last forever after an incredible week at the home of golf.

Mark Ridley not only lined up alongside some household names such as Bernhard Langer and Sir Nick Faldo, he even went and made the cut at the Senior Open Championship after a thrilling end to the second day.

Ridley will certainly never forget what happened on the Old Course, because he proved he was worthy of his place on the biggest stage for over-50s golf after battling his way through pre-qualifying.

The 51-year-old made the cut by making birdie at the last to climb up to joint 60th place to make the weekend.

That was a fantastic achievement anyway, given the field attracted 143 players including eventual winner Miguel-Angel Jiminez as well as former Ryder Cup stars Langer, legend Tom Watson and six-time major winner Faldo.

Ridley said: “I will take away loads of fantastic memories and I don’t think it will sink in for a week or so – to realise what I have played in and the people I have seen.

“In the end I didn’t feel out of place. At the start you think ‘Oh dear, I’m playing with the big boys’, but I didn’t feel intimidated. Once I got going I was fine.”

Ridley carded a strong opening 70 at St Andrews with three 75s in tougher conditions to finish on seven over after the four days, to earn him around £4,000 for his memorable appearance.

The South Moor pro only left his amateur days behind aged 40 and he was back at St Andrew’s for the first time since playing on a friend’s trip 27 years ago. The wait was well worth it, though, just to share fairways with some of the big guns who have graced the world of golf for decades.

To have earned his spot through pre-qualifying at Ladybank made it that extra bit special.

And he Ridley enjoyed playing in front of the knowledgeable crowd on the west coast of Scotland and talking with his fellow competitors.

He said: “I had a nice chat with Des Smyth and Mark Calcavecchia and the lads I played with – Duffy Waldorf and Santiago Luna were fantastic, they made me feel at ease.”

Ridley’s Senior Open showing even made one of his club-mate’s days.

Fellow South Moor member Aaron Oakes caddied for him until the final round when Ridley’s friend Steve Wightman – with whom he played his first round of golf aged ten – took over.

Ridley said: “The whole thing has been fantastic from start to finish. I had to qualify and I was buzzing, then it was the practice rounds and into the tournament.”

The weekend weather at St Andrews was rough, with the back nine playing particularly tough, but he took comfort from beating the Sunday final round of some big names like Tom Watson and John Daly.

The likes of Costantino Rocca, Jean van de Velde and Faldo didn’t even make the cut.

Now he travels to the London Club in Kent from the Staysure PGA Senior Championship.

He said: “Hopefully I can just keep it going.

“I’m exhausted, I’ve just played nine days on the run. But I’m looking forward to it.”

Spaniard Jimenez clung on to win the Senior Open by a single stroke to defending champion Langer.

The Spaniard poured in a clutch par save at the famous 17th hole to keep hold of his lead and when Langer could not birdie the last, Jimenez was able to make the simplest of fours for the title.

Jimenez led by two entering the final round and was a flawless four-under for the day through 14, but a bogey at the 15th hole saw his lead reduced to one.

Langer, who birdied the same hole in the group ahead having earlier made a mistake at the 13th, was unable to leave himself a realistic birdie chance at the last as his title defence came up one short.

Back-to-back bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes derailed Kirk Triplett’s threatening run but the early leader nonetheless shared second with Scott McCarron and Stephen Ames.