Local hopefuls are chasing an Open qualifying dream

"It would be like a dream, more than a dream if that's possible," admitted one of the North-East's finest amateur golfers reflecting on what it would be like to play at St Andrews in this year's Open Championship.

Middlesbrough's Michael Skelton is one of 39 from the area to be teeing off with the Old Course in his sights when he embarks on the first stage of qualifying on Monday.

There are 16 clubs up and down the country playing host to almost 2,000 golfers aiming to force their way into this year's Open and only the elite few will be handed the opportunity to become an overnight sensation at the home of golf.

Scotsman Stuart Wilson, married to a former Darlington schoolteacher, enjoyed the limelight 12 months ago when he ended as the highest amateur at the Royal Troon showpiece - while his three under par opening round had him among the leaders.

Five years earlier the name Justin Rose became recognised around the globe when the 17-year-old finished joint fourth at Royal Birkdale; culminating on the 18th green when he received the biggest roar of the weekend after holing a 45-yard pitch shot.

It's the performances of Rose and Wilson that reassures thousands of talented local golfers there is a chance of playing for the Claret Jug and, for those who are dreaming of doing it this year, the challenge is about to start.

In two days the clutch of North-East hopefuls will be heading either to Alwoodley or Silloth-on-Sollway aiming to finish in the top 20 per cent after just 18 holes to book a place at the Local Qualifying Stage on July 9-10.

Regardless of success or failure, competitors still return on an annual basis to try their luck all over again, still holding the belief that their time will come.

Rob Dinwiddie will be involved in his third qualifiers and, perhaps more than the other two, this could be his year as he heads to Alwoodley in tremendous shape.

In his last two events he has been crowned Scottish Amateur champion and Welsh Amateur Stroke Play champion - his first and second major triumphs as an amateur.

The victories cemented his place in this year's Walker Cup team and he is hoping to go one better than he has in previous Open qualifiers.

In 2002 and 2004 he progressed to the next stage by finishing well at Alwoodley, but failed to reach Muirfield and Troon after finishing outside the top three at Lothiness and Turnberry.

However, 2005 is shaping up to be a little different. "I do fancy my chances of reaching the local stage at least. All you have to do is play a solid round of golf and shoot one or two under par," said Dinwiddie, a member at Barnard Castle.

"I have pretty good experience of playing in the qualifiers and, although they are pretty gruelling, to know what they are about really helps.

"It would be fantastic to get through. The atmosphere at St Andrews would be great to be part of. I love to think that I will play in The Open at some stage of my life."

The 22-year-old has spent the past few years in the United States graduating from Tennessee University and knows what the Masters and the US Open mean to the golfing fraternity across the pond.

To play at Augusta in the future would mean a lot to Dinwiddie but there is one challenge he would love to overcome more than any other. "Personally the British Open is the greatest for me," he said.

"I see that as the first major around the world. It's the British Open and the biggest names in gold would not miss it. It is the biggest competition in the world and to think you are competing to be involved in that is incredible."

One of the most appealing things about Open golf is that stars on the county golf scene have the chance to mix it alongside Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, even if it is a monumental task to achieve that.

Seaton Carew's James Harper is a regular on the Durham scene, and won the County Championship in 2002, but has not competed at the higher levels of the amateur circuit.

Nevertheless, one of the North-East's finest players, is a regular competitor in Open qualifying and believes past experiences will stand him in good stead this year.

Harper will be heading to Silloth-on-Solway on Monday for the third time having put the Cumbrian Links course down as one of his choices as it is the nearest thing to his home club, Seaton Carew.

And, having overcome nerves on his first appearance at the regional qualifiers, he seriously expects to be in with a chance of going all the way to St Andrews.

Only three from each of the local qualifying venues - Ladybank, Leven Links, Lundin and Scotscraig - will warrant a place among the world's elite, but it is at here regulars on the European and Challenge Tours become involved.

"Last year I went to Troon in the locals and hopefully this year I can go one step further," said the 27-year-old.

"The first year I was intimidated thinking that everyone at Silloth was better than me. Last year, because I had the experience of the year before, I realised there was nothing to be worried about.

"The same happened at Troon, so this year hopefully I can qualify beyond the first stage and I won't feel overawed. I know I can compete with the rest of them at that level. I now know that I am as good as them if not better."

Nothing changes in his build-up to Open qualification; he tries to keep the continuity in his game and prepares in exactly the same way he would for a club tournament.

"They don't really change," said Harper, a quality manager for a cable company. "I am committed to the club tournaments and the county side. To have played in so many of those during the build up to the qualifiers helps.

"I'm playing better than ever and my handicap keeps coming down. It's hard to play as much golf as I would like because I work full-time. I would like to play in more of the big amateur things, -it's just about finding the time. But I have to make time to try to play in The Open."

It is a mark of the importance of what an Open appearance means to a golfer that Skelton is prepared to forget about another shot at the Walker Cup if it means he can concentrate on playing for the gold medal at St Andrews.

Two years ago the Middlesbrough youngster helped Great Britain & Ireland defeat the Americans for the third successive time in amateur golf's version of the Ryder Cup at Ganton.

Skelton will be at Alwoodley on Monday and will not make the same mistake he did at Silloth three years ago as a raw 18-year-old.

He drove home early disappointed with his score only to learn two days later that he would have been involved in a play-off.

"That's just what happens. I really did think my score wasn't good enough so I left with my dad. Four of us would have been battling it out to go through and I didn't know," said Skelton.

But the Teessider has never been one to fret too much if things aren't going his way. "It's only a game of golf. If you can do the best you can and control yourself the rest is uncontrollable.

"Everything is just a consequence. I try to keep things as simple as that in my mind," he said.

"To play in the Open would be absolutely awesome.

"It's a goal of mine to play a major and to win a major. To do that would be fantastic but to get to my first one would be great. This year is even more special because it's at St Andrews."

Published: ??/??/2004