Golf aces hit form in Open qualifying

Although neither player will be joining the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy at Muirfield in a fortnight’s time, both achieved top 15 finishes amid strong fields at their respective courses in Scotland.

Nessling, of Cooden Beach Golf Club, came tied 12th at Dunbar and fellow Hastings-based professional Doswell, from Highwoods, finished in a share of 13th with the likes of former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie at Gullane No1.

Twenty-three-year-old Nessling began with a level par 70 in the morning before carding a splendid four-under 66 in his afternoon round. He finished just three shots outside the three qualifying places, two of which were taken by golfers from India and Australia.

Doswell had rounds of 73 and 72 for a three-over-par total of 145 at a course where only the three qualifiers broke par. He finished two shots better off than two-time European Tour winner Alastair Forsyth.

In fact, Nessling - whose trip north of the border was sponsored by Hastings Direct - was the highest placed of the seven Sussex-based players in action across the four venues (the other was The Musselburgh) and Doswell was second.

Colton Alleyne-Davis, of Beauport Park, was tied 61st at North Berwick after rounds of 77 and 80 gave him a 15-over total of 157. All three men reached local final qualifying by coming through regional qualifying on Monday, last week.