KENT’S top golfers have been battling it out in an effort to qualify for this year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.

Local final qualifying took place at Formby, Conwy, Wallasey and West Lancashire on Monday and Tuesday.

The starting field for each final consisted of 96 players with only the top three from each venue going on to play in the event, which is taking place between July 20 and 23.

North Foreland’s Darren Parris will be teeing up alongside the world’s best golfers after finishing joint second at Formby. Parris carded impressive scores of 69 and 70 to finish five under par.

But there was disappointment for 19 other golfers from across the county who failed to make the cut.

At Formby, Thomas Sherreard, (Chart Hills), carded 71 and 75 (+2), to finish joint 19th; David Jessup, (Rochester & Cobham Park), 77, 75, (+8), joint 54th; Ricki Neil-Jones, (Southern Valley), 74, 78, (+8), joint 54th; Daniel Warwick, (Mid Kent), 78, 78, (+12), joint 76th.

At Conwy, Matt Ford (Cobtree Manor Park) was Kent’s highest ranking golfer after he carded 72 and 75 to finish joint 11th.

Other finishers were Francis McGuirk, (Prince’s), 74, 80, (+10), joint 40th; Kyle Kelsall, (Tenterden), 74, 81, (+11), joint 47th; Richard Wallis, (Prince’s), 81, 78, (+15), joint 61st; Warren Wood, (Rochester & Cobham Park), 82, 78, (+16), joint 68th; Paul Page, (Kingshill) 77, NR.

At Wallasey, Ally Mellor, (Nizels), scored 75 and 74, (+5), to finish joint 23rd.

He was followed by Matt Haines, (Rochester & Cobham Park), 75, 75, (+6), joint 27th; Nick Olson, (Faversham), 72, 81, (+9), joint 52nd; Peter Appleyard, (Wildernesse), 74, 86, (+16).

And at West Lancashire, the Kent-based golfers were Jason Barnes, (Ashford), 74, 72, (+2), joint 13th; Jamie Harris, (Nevill) 73, 75, (+4), joint 23rd; Andrew Reynolds, (Royal Cinque Ports), 72, 81, (+9), joint 51st; Anthony Tarchetti, (Littlestone), 78, 77, (+11), joint 57th; Edward Morton, (Kent National), 77, 85, (+18), joint 79th.