Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Scottish brothers gain Open entry

Elliot and Lloyd Saltman
Elliot and Lloyd are the first brothers to qualify the Open for 26 years

Scottish brothers Elliot and Lloyd Saltman have become the first brothers to qualify for the Open since Seve and Manuel Ballesteros 26 years ago.

The pair came through qualifying at Kilmarnock Barassie and Glasgow Gailes to earn their places at Turnberry.

But Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal and Frenchman Jean van de Velde, runner-up at Carnoustie 10 years ago, both missed out on grabbing one of the 12 spots.

Four spots were available at each of the three final-qualifying courses.

Austrian Markus Brier played his two rounds at Barassie in a stunning 16-under par and he was joined in qualifying by Lloyd Saltman, Australian Daniel Gaunt and Denmark's Peter Ellebye.

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"Links golf is in my body - I loved it from when I was a teenager and visited Turnberry with six or seven other Austrian amateurs," said 41-year-old Brier.

And at Glasgow Gailes, the older Saltman brother qualified along with South African Thomas Aitken, Peter Baker and Ireland's David Higgins.

"Wow - it's just fantastic that both of us are going to be at Turnberry next week," said Lloyd.

The successful quartet at Western Gailes were Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed, English trio Steve Surry, Thomas Haylock and Daniel Wardrop.

Englishman Kenneth Ferrie meanwhile launched a scathing attack on Open Championship organisers after falling three shots short at Barassie.

The former European Open champion three putted the final green for a second round 68 and a seven-under-par aggregate score.

"The pin placing on the 18th is an absolute disgrace - horrific, ridiculous," the 30-year-old said.

"My putt had four breaks on it from 25 yards and it just leaves a sour taste."

Last week in France, Ferrie missed out on Open qualification by a single shot when he finished sixth at the French Open.

Jose Maria Olazabal
Olazabal's last Open was at Royal Liverpool in 2006

Ferrie, who returned to the European Tour this year after failing to retain his US Tour card, has played in four Opens, missing the cut twice, finishing in a tie for 42nd at Royal Troon in 2004 and withdrawing because of back trouble at Hoylake in 2006.

Ferrie, along with double-Masters champion Olazabal, will now head north to Loch Lomond where they will hope to grab the one exempt spot available at the Scottish Open.

Van de Velde missed out along with three other former Ryder Cup players - Barry Lane, Ronan Rafferty and Steve Richardson.

Open qualifiers:

Glasgow Gailes: Thomas Aiken (Rsa), Peter Baker (Eng), David Higgins (Ire), Elliot Saltman (Sco).

Kilmarnock Barassie: Markus Brier (Aut), Lloyd Saltman (Sco), Daniel Gaunt(Aus) , Peter Ellebye (Den).

Western Gailes: Fredrik Andersson Hed (Swe), Steve Surry (Eng), Thomas Haylock (Eng), Daniel Wardrop (Eng).

ะพ 10:26 AM

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