Hampshire hopefuls counted out of Open (From Daily Echo)

Hopefuls counted out of Hampshire's Open Championship

3:40pm Wednesday 4th July 2012 in Sport By Gordon Simpson, Senior Sports Reporter

IT was disappointment all round for Hampshire’s Open Championship hopefuls at local final qualifying.

A host of players competed yesterday for a coveted place at Royal Lytham & St Annes later this month.

None of them were able to book a ticket to the third major championship of the season, though.

Qualifying took place at four venues in Lancashire, with three spots in the Open available at each.

At Hillside, South Winchester’s Martin LeMesurier was the county’s best performer, finishing on seven-over-par after his 36 holes, which put him in a tie for 42nd.

Botley Park amateur Dan Dawson was tied for 56th, on plus-12.

At Southport & Ainsdale, Liphook’s James Foster was the solo Hampshire representative.

He shot a respectable four-over, but that was only good enough to break the top 40.

At West Lancashire, Rowlands Castle amateur Billy McKenzie ended up on seven-over, which put him in a tie for 43rd place.

At St Annes Old Links, the county had four hopefuls.

The best performer was ex- Blackmoor assistant Nick Redfern, who lives in Asia for most of the year, but returns to Hampshire over the summer.

Redfern, sponsored by Swiss bank Julius Baer, carded a score of fourover to put him joint 35th.

Young Hayling pro Toby Burden, representing Red Golf Management, was tied 46th on sixover.

Close behind him was former Blackmoor professional Steve Mitchell.

He produced a pair of 76s to finish on eight-over and in a tie for 58th place.

Hayling amateur Jamie Mist rounded off the Hampshire contingent, recovering from an opening round 84 to shoot 72 after lunch and finish on a total of 12-over, leaving him joint 66th.

With European Tour pros Richard Bland and Sam Hutsby having missed out at international qualifying, Hampshire’s sole representative in the Open will be former North Hants member Justin Rose.