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Saltman brothers earn Open Championship places at Turnberry

Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Michael Weston
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Scot Elliot Saltman will be making his debut Open appearance

Lloyd and Elliot Saltman made history yesterday as the first brothers to qualify for the Open since Seve and Manuel Ballesteros 26 years ago, and were among 12 players to secure their places at Turnberry next week.

A 288-man field completed 36 holes during the last two days of Open Championship Local Final Qualifying, with four berths available at each of the three LFQ venues; Glasgow – Gailes Links, Kilmarnock (Barassie) and Western Gailes.

But the Scottish brothers Lloyd and Elliot were the story of the day coming through at Kilmarnock (Barassie) and Glasgow – Gailes Links respectively.

The pair will now go on to play at Turnberry; Elliot, 27, making his debut Championship appearance and Lloyd, 23, with his first Open start since winning the Silver Medal as Leading Amateur at St Andrews in 2005.

"It’s a dream come true to be in the Open, especially along with my brother, Lloyd," said elder brother, Elliot, whose other brother, Zack, was on his bag at Glasgow – Gailes

Markus Brier, whose nine under-par total of 64 set the pace at Barassie yesterday, ensured his fifth Open appearance with a 66.

At Glasgow – Gailes Links it was South Africa’s Thomas Aiken who led the way, posting a four under 67 today to lead by two strokes on six under-par.

And at Western Gailes Fredrik Andersson-Hed’s 36-hole total of 137, which came courtesy of a four under-par 67. One shot behind the Swede was England’s Steve Surry who qualified for his first Open after scoring a day-two 66.

The other players to qualify at Glasgow – Gailes Links were veteran English Ryder Cup competitor, Peter Baker, and Ireland’s David Higgins. At Kilmarnock (Barassie) Daniel Gaunt of Australia and Denmark’s Peter Ellebye were successful. And at Western Gailes Englishmen Thomas Haylock and Daniel Wardrop also secured their Turnberry berths.

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