In sunny, but windy conditions on the Kent coast, Matthew Ford qualified for The Open to make his major championship debut after he led the qualifiers at Prince’s on a five-under-par total of 139.

The Bearsted golfer started off with a steady round of 71 before experiencing a rollercoaster second round in which he mixed two eagles and three birdies with a double bogey and two bogeys.

Nevertheless, a four-under-par 68 led to Ford finishing two shots clear at the top of the leaderboard ahead of compatriot Jamie Rutherford and Irishman Ronan Mullarney, a former R&A Foundation Scholar, who tied for second on three-under-par. Both players matched each other with rounds of 70 and 71.

Having qualified, Ford spoke of his delight at making the 150th staging of The Open:

“I eagled 8 to get five-under early in the second round and then I hit a couple of poor drives which ended up costing me four shots, so five-under to one-under middle of the round. To finish as I did, I’m obviously very happy and to make eagle and a couple of birdies as I did coming home was great. I showed some good mental strength and golf in the end.
 
“I’m obviously delighted as I’ve never played in The Open before. It’s going to be a massive thrill to play in front of that crowd. I’ll need to find some accommodation now! The family will come up and I’m so excited. I’m looking forward to a great week.”
 

A play-off decided the final qualifying place as Matthew Southgate’s birdie putt from five feet slipped agonisingly past the hole on the last to leave five players level on two-under-par. Jack Floydd went on to prevail among the group of hopefuls in sudden death with a birdie at the first play-off hole.