Ayrshire’s Michael Stewart brilliantly beat off the rain and wind to secure a maiden majors appearance, finishing top qualifer at Dundonald Links for next fortnight’s 151st Open.
Stewart, 33, posted scores of 71 and a sensational second round six-under 66 to finish two shots clear of the field for a seven-under total.
The Troon Welbeck club member now joins fellow Scots Ewen Ferguson, Robert MacIntyre, Richie Ramsay and Connor Syme in the 151st hosting of The Open starting July 20th at Royal Liverpool.
The World No. 854th ranked golfer capped his second round in birdieing three of his closing four holes and much to the delight of plenty of his home club supporters.
Stewart said: “It was obviously a great day. It was great to have so much support out there.
BREAKING NEWS …
Well done 🏴Michael Stewart @mikeystewart7 @troonwelbeckgc & coach @mccloskey_alan after taking top spot by two shots @TheOpen FQ @DundonaldLinks👏
The @OWGRltd No. 854 to make his majors debut @RLGCHoylake
✅ @TOURMISS @Record_Sport (Bernie) pic.twitter.com/dFXu3xVY0g
— Golf & Science News (@TOURMISS) July 4, 2023
“It was also a very testing day. This morning was really quite tough, then the wind died a little bit in the afternoon. I’m just delighted, absolutely delighted. I just played really, really good coming in.
“Hoylake is one of the very few Opens I have been at. I played in the Junior Open in 2006 (at Heswall) and went along as a spectator. I have fond many memories of the place and we were then when Tiger won.”
Stewart now joins Ewen Ferguson, Robert MacIntyre, Richie Ramsay and Connor Syme teeing-up on July 20th at Royal Liverpool.
And there’s a chance to boost the Tartan representation with three Open spots up for grabs at this week’s DP World Tour’s Made in Denmark and next week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
Stewart has been competing this year and for first season on the secondary Challenge Tour having played a dozen events but missed the cut in half.
He previously contested nealy 100 events from 2015 up to and including 2022 on the Euro Pro Tour, capped by two wins, including last September’s Scottish Masters at Leven Links before finishing second on the 2022 Order Of Merit to finally qualify for the Challenge Tour.
Meanwhile at @DundonaldLinks, an epic play-off reached the fifth extra hole…
…before Graeme Robertson did this to qualify for The Open. pic.twitter.com/V0zwZBTMRd
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 4, 2023
There was triple Tartan delight at the former Scottish Open host venue with fellow Ayrshire-born Aussie Connor McKinney, winner at last year’s St. Andrews Links Trophy, securing his place in a three-man play-off at Dundonald.
McKinney grabbed his maiden Open tee-time with a birdie at the second extra hole, leaving two Scots, Kirkhill’s Craig Ross and Falkirk’s Fairways Golf Studio’s Graeme Roberston fighting for the fourth and final spot.
Joy for Robertson, winning as the shadows lengthened with a long birdie at the fifth extra hole.
“It’s a dream come true. I played golf as an amateur to a good level and then maybe stopped it for six or seven years and worked full-time and didn’t play a lot of golf,” said Robertson.
“I’m just coming back to it so if you had said to me that four or five years ago, when I was sitting behind a computer desk 7:30 to 5, Monday to Friday, that I would be playing in The Open there’s no way I would have believed it.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but it feels good. I can’t wait for it to happen.”
