WILTSHIRE’S golfing duo of David Howell and Jordan Smith failed to qualify for the US Open, with the latter withdrawing from the final stages yesterday.

Swindon’s Howell and Smith, from Derry Hill, made the cut at the BMW PGA Championship at the weekend, finishing 48th and tied 40th respectively at Wentworth.

However, there was not let up for either man as they returned to action in Surrey yesterday morning at Walton Heath as they made their bid to finish in the top 15 and qualify for the US Open, which starts at Erin Hills, Wisconsin, on June 15.

Starting on the Old Course, 41-year-old Howell made a dreadful start to proceedings as he found himself at five over par at the turn having bogeyed five of the opening eight holes.

He was able to stem the tide with four holes to par before back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 saw the Broome Manor pro heading back in the right direction.

Birdies on 16 and 18 saw Howell limit the damage as he went into the second round on the New Course at just one over par.

Despite scoring one under par on his second 18 yesterday afternoon, a final score of par was not enough to trouble the leaders, with England’s Aaron Rai leading the pack with an overall score of 14 under par.

Meanwhile Smith, who started like a bullet, with birdies on his opening four holes on the Old Course, finished his first round lying two under par.

Despite moving to five under par with three birdies on holes four, six and eight of his second round, back-to-back bogeys on 11 and 12 saw the Bowood man call it a day just a hole later.

Both players now head to Sweden to compete in the Nordea Masters at the Barseback Golf Club in Malmo, with the tournament starting on Thursday.