ROYAL BIRKDALE has famously proved to be fertile ground for amateur contenders in years gone by. When the Open championship was last held here in 2008, Chris Wood finished in a tie for fifth, while a decade earlier Justin Rose claimed a share of fourth.
None of this year’s throng of five non-professionals, all making their Open debuts, will be expected to emulate those achievements but the race for the Silver Medal ought to still be keenly contested. The initial aim for all involved will be just to make the cut, something neither of the two amateurs in the field at Royal Troon last year was able to do.
Best of the bunch on the opening day was Alfie Plant. The 21 year-old Englishman carded a one-over round of 71 to leave him in a strong position to return for the weekend. His countryman, Harry Ellis, the Amateur champion did not fare so well, eventually signing for a frustrating 77. “Finishing with a rubbish bogey on 18 is a little bit disappointing, a little bit of a flat moment, but it’s all right,” said the 21 year-old.
It was a similar tale of frustration for the marvellously-monickered Maverick McNealy. The American, the highest-ranked amateur in the world, put his opening tee shot out of bounds and would later settle for a 78.
“The first two holes, the weather was just shocking,” he said. “I’ve honestly never played in anything like that.”
The Italian Luca Cianchetti fared slightly better with a 75, while Scotland’s Connor Syme, covered in more detail elsewhere, signed for an eventful 73.
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