SOUTHPORT, England – Joe Dean, a former delivery driver, earned the last spot into the 154th British Open on Monday.
The 32-year-old Englishman made an eagle at the par-5 14th at Royal Birkdale and carded a 2-under 68 to beat 12 contestants in the Open’s inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier. That was a stroke better than Andrew Wilson, who will be the first alternate, and two better than Aldrich Potgieter, who shot even-par 70. American Wesley Bryan, a former PGA Tour winner who has developed a huge following as a YouTube golfer, shot 74 and finished 10th.
Dean will be playing in The Open for the third time in his career after finishing T-70 in 2017 and then bettering that in 2024 with a T-25 result.
Dean made par on the first six holes before getting into red figures with a birdie at the par-3 seventh hole. He tacked on a birdie at the 11th but gave it back with a bogey at 13. He bounced back in fine fashion with an eagle at 14 and after a bogey at 15, he managed to par into the house.
Dean overcame a dicey moment at the 17th after hitting a wild tee shot right of the fairway and over a tall mound where the marshals stand. He located his ball in the thick rough and gouged out to the fairway.
The 32-year-old Englishman made an eagle at the par-5 14th at Royal Birkdale and carded a 2-under 68 to beat 12 contestants in the Open’s inaugural Last-Chance Qualifier. That was a stroke better than Andrew Wilson, who will be the first alternate, and two better than Aldrich Potgieter, who shot even-par 70. American Wesley Bryan, a former PGA Tour winner who has developed a huge following as a YouTube golfer, shot 74 and finished 10th.
Dean will be playing in The Open for the third time in his career after finishing T-70 in 2017 and then bettering that in 2024 with a T-25 result.
Dean made par on the first six holes before getting into red figures with a birdie at the par-3 seventh hole. He tacked on a birdie at the 11th but gave it back with a bogey at 13. He bounced back in fine fashion with an eagle at 14 and after a bogey at 15, he managed to par into the house.
Dean overcame a dicey moment at the 17th after hitting a wild tee shot right of the fairway and over a tall mound where the marshals stand. He located his ball in the thick rough and gouged out to the fairway.
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