Jack Yule shrugged off three poor holes to book his place in final qualifying for the 147th Open Championship at Carnoustie next month.

The King's Lynn professional was the only Norfolk player to come through the first stage, with a one over par round of 71 seeing him home in tied fourth position at Northamptonshire County.

But it certainly wasn't all plain sailing, with four double bogeys thrown into the mix as well as five birdies. Yule set up his qualification with an excellent front nine of 33, with a six at the fifth the only blemish. It was more of a struggle coming home, with two more sixes and just one birdie, but he still finished one shot inside the mark.

The 23-year-old must now overcome an even bigger challenge on Tuesday to realise every golfer's dream of playing in the Open. Players who came through the regional events will be joined by leading players without exemption for a 36-hole shootout at four venues, with just three qualifying places on offer at each.

Yule will be playing at Prince's in Kent and the size of his task is emphasised by the fact that one of his rivals is South African Retief Goosen, the two-time US Open champion. He will be aiming to book a return visit to Scotland - where his family have their roots - after putting in the best performance of his fledgling professional career to finish tied second in the Europro Tour's Eagle Orchid Scottish Masters earlier this month.

Yule was part of a big county contingent in Northamptonshire which included Norfolk Amateur champion Warren Bates. The Heacham Manor teenager was far from disgraced after posting a 75, the same score as his Suffolk counterpart Chris Bartram from Diss, while Nic Cains of Swaffham had a 74 and Morgan Thompson-Williams (Royal Norwich) and Nick Lucas (Dunston Hall) both had 78s.

Three players from Rookery Park travelled down to Frilford Heath to try their luck.

Amateur Calvin Sherwood missed the qualifying mark by three shots with a 74 while Mummery was three shots further back after a 77 and Soanes had a no return. Heacham Manor's James Taverner recorded a respectable 74 at Sandy Lodge, just two short of what was required.