Ashington golfer still with chance of Open place

Posted by The Journal on Jul 9, 09 09:06 AM in Sport

Ashington's Ken Ferrie will tee up in the Scottish Open today looking for confirmation that his game is back where it should be after finishing tied sixth in the French Open.

Ferrie, who missed out in final qualifying at Kilmarnock Barassie, can still make it if he is in the top five at Loch Lomond on Sunday.

Ferrie insists the Open is not his top priority given his dislike of links golf, but he knows that he should be playing on the big stage at Turnberry if he wants to continue to be considered a top player.

He could have clinched his place at Turnberry but a second round 68 at Kilmarnock Barassie saw him finish seven under par, three shots off the qualifying mark.

After a first round 71, Ferrie knew he needed 65 or better and he wasn't happy after three-putting the final green and described the pin placing on Barassie's 18 as "horrific and ridiculous".

Ferrie said: "Open qualifying should be about the best players over the two days getting through. It's a 380-yard hole and I've had to hit a five iron off the tee to leave an eight iron to the flag.

"It's just a farce. I don't care who you are, that is an unfair flag. Fair enough, I should have two-putted it but it does make me feel I shouldn't have bothered. I fly home from France and drive three hours up here, battle my way round and get it going and it just feels like I've wasted my time."

Now Ferrie moves on to Loch Lomond and while he will insist the Open is not on his mind, a top-five finish will see him in it and he won't turn the spot down.

If Ferrie fails to make the top five at Loch Lomond, Graeme Storm of Hartlepool will be the only North East player at Turnberry with the region drawing a blank at final qualifying.

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