Sydney, Australia, Nov 26, 2017: Cameron Davis, Jonas Blixt and Matt Jones secured their places in the starting field of The 147th Open after qualifying at the Emirates Australian Open today (Australian Golf Club).
The 102nd staging of the championship, played at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, was the first opportunity for players to book their place at Carnoustie next year through The Open Qualifying Series.
It was a day to remember for home-grown talent Cameron Davis, who lifted the Stonehaven Cup after just over a year in the professional ranks. A five at the par-4 16th was the only blemish on the 22-year-old’s final round scorecard as he notched up six birdies and an eagle to card a 64 (-7) to top the leaderboard and take the tournament on 11-under-par.
Davis, who won the Australian Amateur in 2015 at the same golf course, and was part of last year’s winning Eisenhower Trophy team at the World Amateur Team Championships in Mexico, looked to have lost momentum after following up an opening day 63 with rounds of 72 and 74.
Davis produced the low round of the day, however, for a one shot victory and will now travel to Carnoustie next July to play in his first major championship.
Jonas Blixt and 2015 Emirates Australian Open champion Matt Jones secured the remaining spots on offer at The Open finishing in joint second place in Sydney on ten-under-par (274). Blixt returns to golf’s original championship after a two-year absence and will make his fourth start at The Open after playing from 2013 to 2015.
The Swede worked hard for his final day 68 which included a double bogey at the 9th putting him at one over for the day. His recovery was a statement of intention – three consecutive birdies followed by another at the 14th saw the 33-year-old climb the leaderboard and come within one shot of forcing a play-off for the Stonehaven Cup.
Jones, who reclaimed his PGA TOUR card in October after finishing 17th on the Web.com Tour’s final money list, got off to a slow start on Sunday after racking up four bogeys after six holes. The 37-year-old managed to regain his focus and begun to reduce the deficit with a birdie 3 at the 7th before delivering a further six birdies on the back nine.
He finished tied second alongside Blixt and booked his return to The Open, where his best finish stands at a tie for 30th at St Andrews in 2015. Jones will also stake his claim for the famous Claret Jug for the fourth time when he travels to Carnoustie in July. —- Picture by The R&A.
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