Nathan Kimsey

Two days of play over the Blue and Red Courses, resulted in the lowest qualifying scores in the history of the championship. Sixty two players qualified on one under par 143, which meant just two more from 13 on level par were needed to complete today’s field and a countback system was applied, the lowest scores on the Red Course going through.

They were Christopher Chilton of High Legh Park Country Club in Cheshire and Daniel Brown from Bedale Golf Club in Yorkshire, both of whom returned 68.

The leading qualifier was Jonathan Thomson from Yorkshire on 135, nine under par, after 65 on the Blue Course and 70 on the Red. He finished two strokes clear of Brabazon Trophy winner Jordan Smith from Wiltshire, Surrey’s Andrew Devonport and Tomasz Anderson from Hertfordshire.

A number of full internationals qualified including Kent’s Max Orrin, the Hertfordshire pair of Jamie Rutherford and Callum Shinkwin and Nathan Kimsey from Lincolnshire. Kimsey looked to be a non-qualifier after shooting 76 on the Red but he recovered brilliantly with 66 on the Blue, going out in 29 strokes, to book his place in the match play on two under.

Ben Amor from Wiltshire, winner of the Carris Trophy at West Lancashire last week, qualified on 140, four under par, as did boy caps Ashton Turner, Jake Storey and Nick Marsh.

There were bound to be some significant casualties and these included the Hampshire pair of defending champion Harry Ellis, who finished on 153, nine over par, and double Brabazon Trophy winner Neil Raymond on 147 after a second round 76.

Fellow international Nathan Kimsey looked as if he might join them after opening with 76 on the Red. But he recovered brilliantly with 66 on the Blue to qualify on two under.