Hampshire interest centres on a familar figure in next week's Open Championship

JUSTIN ROSE heads the Hampshire interest in the 132nd Open Championship, which gets under way at Royal St George's, Sandwich, on Thursday (17th).

The 22-year-old Hook professional is in great form and recently shot a final round of 69 to finish in fifth place in the US Open at Olympia Fields, Chicago.

Rose finished fourth equal at Royal Birkdale five years ago, behind the likes of Tiger Woods, when playing as a 17-year-old amateur at Royal Birkdale. But his game took a downturn when he turned professional just months later. He has, however, shown a welcome return to form in the past year.

Parker and Edwards go through

Two Hampshire professionals came safely through the qualifying event at Hindhead on Monday to take their place among the final group of would-be competitors at Sandwich.

Bruce Parker (Brokenhurst Manor) led the field with a fine three-under-par 67, while Lee-on-the-Solent's Rob Edwards also made his way through with a steady par 70.

Said Parker: "It was a great thrill to play so well. To play in the Open is a dream I've had since I was a boy. "But there's still a lot of hard work to do against some really good players."

He and Edwards were among 1,778 entries in qualifying events being held at 16 regional venues. Only 138 were guaranteed places in the final qualifying rounds being played over four courses on Sunday and Monday.

They'll be joined by many top class players who've narrowly failed to win full exemption into the Championship.

Bad day at Blackmoor

But it was a dismal day for Hampshire competitors at Blackmoor on Monday, with not one of the county's 20 representatives surviving the regional qualifying round for next week's event, writes Kit Neilson.

With only 11 places allocated for the two final qualifying rounds in Kent, it was always going to be tough for the 128 competitors, with play getting under way at 6.30am and going on until dusk.

It was one of the latest finishers, Camberley Heath assistant, Darren Bragg, who posted two nines of 32 for a 64, one off the course record. Bragg, who played on the Davidoff Tour last year, has been at Camberley for 16 of his 26 years, the last six of them in the pro shop, where his mentor is Glenn Ralph.

One stroke back on 65 was Charlie Challen, of Stoke Park, formerly Stoke Poges. A regular on the Challenge Tour, Challen has a great liking for Blackmoor dating from playing in the Selborne Salver as an amateur.

An amiable, gregarious soul who totes his own bag and chats to anyone, Challen (28) picked up three birdies and an eagle, the latter at the par-five eighth, where he eased an eight-iron to 10 feet and nailed the putt.

"I really used my brains today. Blackmoor is such a good test and you have to hit it in the right places to score well. It also has a great set of short holes," he said. Other qualifiers included David Ryles (West Hill), who was back well in time for lunch with a 66 under his belt.

Matching his 66 were Matt Hazelden of Bletchingley and Philip Carr, the amateur from Sunningdale, while both on 67 were Bernard White (Sutton Green) and Fredrick Mansson (Sweden), the only one of a dozen overseas players to go through.

All on 68 and earning their own passports were Chris Rowse (Woking), Paul Robshaw (Lambourne), Matt Woods (Newbury) and Jamie Harris (Nevill).

Matching par were Chris Rodgers and Phil Talbot (Royal Mid-Surrey), Richard Caldwell (Sunningdale), Arwel Roberts (Worthing) and James Marshall (Westerham), who all went out in the late evening to contest one of the few reserve spots available.

Best of the home county players with 70 was Steve Cowle (Blacknest), two ahead of Kevin Saunders (Dibden), Matt Thomas (Dunwood Manor) and Jamie Hall (Meon Valley). Just behind them on 73 was Chris Kilgannon, the promising amateur from Royal Winchester.

Martin Le Mesurier (Brokenhurst Manor), leading the 2003 Challenge Tour, could do no better than 75, while also missing out was Zane Scotland (Walton Heath), winner of the Selborne Salver at Blackmoor in April and a member of the elite Walker Cup squad.