Golf: Scahill knocked out in five-man playoff for Open

SANDWICH - Stephen Scahill was left lamenting an elusive first British Open appearance after losing out in the playoff on the last day of final qualifying yesterday.

Scahill and Mahal Pearce missed qualifying for the Open to leave Michael Campbell, David Smail and Craig Perks as the only New Zealanders in this week's tournament.

Scahill was among 96 golfers competing at the Royal Cinque Ports course, one of four qualifying courses, and hoping to grab one of the top-six places from each course into the British Open starting on Thursday night.

The Featherston-born golfer, 32, had tried to pre-qualify twice before for golf's oldest major, in both 2000 and last year, and was unsuccessful.

Yesterday Scahill's British Open anguish continued when he was knocked out of a five-man playoff.

Scahill carded an opening round of 71 and then after yesterday's 69, contested in windy conditions, he was tied in fifth place on 140 with four other players, including close friend and former New Zealand Open winner, Peter Fowler of Australia.

Fowler and two other players sealed their place in the final field after both Scahill and England's Steve Vinnicombe bogeyed the extra playoff hole.

Mahal Pearce was the only other New Zealander to tee up at final qualifying.

Both Steve Alker and Gareth Paddison did not attend, despite their names appearing on the starting list.

Pearce, the New Zealand Open champion, was competing on the Prince's course that adjoins the tournament venue Royal St George's.

Pearce opened with a 73 but ended with a 75 which included three birdies but five bogeys. * Former US Masters champion Ian Woosnam secured a place at the Open for the 22nd consecutive year with a superb chip-in during a five-way playoff in qualifying yesterday.

The Briton carded a second successive two-under-par 70 before conjuring a birdie at the first sudden-death hole, the 430m par-four 10th at Prince's.

The 45-year-old, who has played the Open every year since he failed to qualify in 1981, missed the green by 20m before rolling in a perfect chip to grab one of 28 qualifying places.

Only two years ago, Woosnam finished tied for third at Royal Lytham.

The 28 final qualifying places were contested at four courses - Littlestone, North Foreland, Prince's and Royal Cinque Ports - and contested by 384 players.

- AGENCIES