7:00am Tuesday 7th July 2009
THE Open Championship dream of young Swindon amateur Sam Matton was alive and well today - but Wrag Barn professional Martin Sell seemed certain to be denied for another year.
Matton, 20, was well in contention for one of the four qualifying spots available from Western Gailes - one of the three venues to host a two-day final qualifying event for next week’s Open at Turnberry after an opening one-over par 72.
And he was right at the head of affairs until a wobbly spell in the middle of his back nine.
The Swindon youngster - a member of both the Broome Manor and Bowood clubs - was towards the top of the leaderboard after an opening nine of 34, two under par.
Birdies at the second and the long sixth left the England A player in great shape but after bogeying the long par four 12th, the wheels came off.
Four shots went at the 14th, 15th and 16th, the first of them a double-bogey seven, although he repaired some of the damage by birdieing the last to keep his hopes alive with a 73, five shots off the overnight lead held by fellow amateur James Byrne going into today’s second and final round.
Fellow Wiltshire competitor Steve Surry, from Cumberwell Park, was a shot better on 72 but another the hopes of another Cumberwell player, Craig Bell, seemed over after an eight-over-par 79.
Sell was left to rue costly finishes to both his front and back nine as he ended day one languishing towards the back of the field at Glasgow Gailes on six over par.
Double bogeys at both the ninth and 18th left the Swindon man, who won the Jamega Tour event at Broome Manor last month, tied for 72nd place.
Matton and Sell are trying to join Swindon’s David Howell in the field at Turnberry, with four places available from each final qualifying venue.
TRACK THEIR SECOND ROUND IN TOMORROW'S SWINDON ADVERTISER
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