Golf: Campbell qualifies for British Amateur Champs

Masterton amateur Ben Campbell is the only Kiwi to qualify for the 117th British Amateur Championship at Royal Troon. Photo / Photosport.

Masterton amateur Ben Campbell is the only Kiwi to qualify for the 117th British Amateur Championship at Royal Troon.

The New Zealand No 2 Campbell, fired rounds of 72 at both Royal Troon and Glasgow Gallies Links to finish on a two over par total and in a share of 39th in qualifying.

He was even par for the championship, and in a share of 15th, with two holes remaining but made two late bogeys to slip 24 places and eight shots behind the winner of the two round qualifying event, Daniel Jennevret of Sweden.

Seventy-eight players from 25 countries progressed to the match play stages, where Campbell is among 28 players required to play a final match to find the final 64 for the British Amateur.

The 20-year-old, who is the 152nd-ranked amateur, will tonight (NZT) square off against American Tyler Raber, who is ranked 836.

The last man standing on Saturday earns a spot in The Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes, a place in next year's US Open and traditionally a place in Masters.

New Zealand No 1 Vaughan McCall missed qualifying after finishing in a share of 92nd when he carded a two over par 73 at Glasgow Gallies Links. He double bogeyed the 17th and bogeyed the 18th, which proved the difference as he missed the cut.

Takaka golfer Blair Riordan, who opened with a three over par 74 at Glasgow Gallies Links, had an eventful round of five birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey at Royal Troon for a three over par 74 to finish in a tie for 118th.

Former New Zealand representative Daniel Pearce and Bay of Plenty's Craig Hamilton both finished in a share of 190th while former New Zealand Amateur champion Mathew Perry finished well off the pace in a share of 270th.