Open Qualifying: Armitage, Bairstow book places at St Andrews

Marcus Armitage and Sam Bairstow enjoyed fine performances on Tuesday to book their places in The 150th Open at St Andrews.

Sixteen players from a starting field of 288 at four venues qualified for golf's original championship through Final Qualifying, earning spots in the field for the historic occasion taking place at the home of golf from July 14-17, live on Sky Sports.

DP World Tour winner Armitage and Bairstow, runner-up in The Amateur Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes to South African Aldrich Potgieter two weeks ago, topped the standings on an eight-under-par total of 136 at St Annes Old Links.

Armitage carded two rounds of 68 to secure his third appearance in The Open, while it was a case of history repeating itself for English amateur Bairstow who earned his place through Final Qualifying at the same venue for the second year running.

They will be joined by Matthew Jordan, who finished one stroke behind on a seven-under-par total of 137, and the fourth qualifying place at St Annes Old Links was determined by a two-way play-off between John Perry and Daniel Kay, who tied for fourth place on six under par. The pair were separated by Parry's par at the second play-off hole as the Scot could only manage double bogey.

At Hollinwell, amateur Barclay Brown set the early pace after rounds of 68 and 72 gave him the clubhouse lead on a four-under-par total of 140.

An eagle on the par-five third hole got the Great Britain and Ireland international off to a strong start and he picked up two birdies on the 14th and 16th to complete an excellent first round. A steady level-par 72 in the second round ensured the Stanford University student claimed the first qualifying place with no one in the field able to catch him.

Ric