Australian trio qualify for Open Championship

Kurt Barnes, Ewan Porter and Peter Senior have qualified for the 2010 Open Championship after taking the top three positions at International Final Qualifying - Australasia at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, Australia.   Barnes claimed top spot on ten-under, two shots ahead of overnight leader Porter (68). Senior (70) took the third qualifying place on five-under.

Senior, 50, will make his 18th appearance at the Open Championship a decade after his last appearance at St Andrews.   

"I thought I had blown it coming down the last couple of holes but the score hung on and I am really excited about going there," said Senior. "St Andrews is such a special place, the atmosphere is just fantastic and I am really going to enjoy this one."

For Barnes, St Andrews will be his first appearance at a Major. The New South Welshman shot an eight-under 64 in the final round which included just 31 strokes on the front nine.

"Just thinking about going to St Andrews is awesome," said Barnes. "I have only played there once at the Dunhill Championship so I am really excited," he added.

Two rounds of 68 saw Porter qualify for the third time in three starts at IFQ - Australasia. "I said to my caddy Grant on the last hole that this feels better than the previous two attempts - just the fact that it's St Andrews this time," said Porter.

The next International Final Qualifying event for the Open Championship, IFQ - Africa, will take place at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club on January 20-21.

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