Galway’s Liam Nolan qualifies for Open Championship

Irish international amateur Liam Nolan has qualified for this month’s Open Championship at Royal Troon after finishing tied-second at the 36-hole qualifying event at the Dundonald Links.

The Walker Cup star carded rounds of 69 and 70 to finish on five-under par, holing a nerveless five-foot par save on 18 to avoid a four-way play-off for the final two qualifying spots.

The final qualifying events for the Open took place at four venues this afternoon – Dundonald Links, Burnham and Berrow, Royal Cinque Ports and West Lancashire – with four qualification spots on offer at each venue.

Nolan, of Galway Golf Club, was the only Irish player to qualify this afternoon, with 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell finishing tied-19th at Royal Cinque Ports.

2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia fell short at West Lancashire, finishing tied-sixth, during which he was given a warning for slow play. Ireland’s Liam Grehan placed tied-10th at the same venue after carding a two-under-par score over 36 holes.

However, Justin Rose booked his spot at Troon, the Ryder Cup stalwart currently tied-first on eight-under par at Burnham and Berrow.