YOUNG Frilford Heath amateur Oliver Huggins is one step from playing in next month’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The teenager shot a one-under-par round of 71 at his home course yesterday to secure one of the eight spots available for the final qualifying round.

More than 100 hopefuls competed in the regional qualifier on Frilford’s Red Course.

Huggins was steadiness personified with 15 pars, two birdies – including one at the last hole – and just one bogey.

Also scoring one under par was Henley’s Narendra Yonjan.

Two Oxfordshire players shot level par – Adam Wootton (Oxford Golf Centre) and Daniel Scourfield (Bicester Hotel) - but missed out in a ten-man play-off for the final qualifying spot. 

Other Frilford players Elliot Bradley and Robert Harrhy both shot 73.

  • MICHAEL White’s Fore Amigo Ball Strikers team won the Phil Garner Memorial Trophy, staged by Five Stars Events at Burford.

The winners scored 94 points, four clear of Darren Middleditch’s Scrambled Wrag, who were second, with Arthur Ball’s Cotswold Hills team with 88.

CORE GOLF UK OXFORDSHIRE FOURSOMES LEAGUE

Section 2 Feldon Valley 1 (1pt) , Chiltern Forest 2 (3pts) (Feldon Valley first): O Wildsmith & S Smith bt E Lloyd & M Williams 6 & 5; A Bailey & G Paish lost to B Allan & D Holland 1 hole;W McCoombes & R Holmes bt S Welfare & N Trewsmith 1 hole.

OXFORD LADIES

Captain’s Cup – Midweek: 1 J Evans (25) 39pts, 2 J Tavinor (11) 38, 3 R Caunt (18) 35. Saturday: 1 H Watts (17) 37pts, 2 T Roberts (9) 37 (cb), 3 C Whittle (16) 33. Overall: 1 J Evans (25) 39pts, 2 J Tavinor (11) 38, 3 H Watts (17) 37.

Lady Captain’s Men’s Stableford: 1 C Hancock (9) 41pts, 2 K Gray 39, 3 P Parsons 38.

Lady Captain’s Men’s Seniors Stableford: 1 N Ray 34pts, 2= B Spokes & B Holman 31.

Lady Captain’s Day – 3-Ball Alliance: 1 S Dudding (24), M Cannon (20) & J Ryan (24) 77pts, 2 M Edwards (12), C Fox (13) & M Peddie (20) 74, 3 J Alexander (30), P Williams (35) & R Stockford (27) 73.

Betty Parsley Trophy: 1 H Watts.

NORTH OXFORD

Captains Day – AM Cross Country (9 holes): 1 P Barrow 20 pts (cb) 2 D Boulton 20 (cb), 3 J Riley 20. PM Stableford: 1 A Kelly 39pts, 2 L Morton 37, 3 M Lewis 36.

Members Cup (fourball better ball stableford): 1 A Kelly & J Tompkins 43 (cb), 2 N Webb & J McCluskey 43, 3 M Laitt & K Johnson 41 (cb).

Mixed club match: Burford 4½, North Oxford 2½.

Seniors match: North Oxford 5, Burford 1.

Ladies’ Fourball Better Ball: 1 M Rhymes & J Northover 43pts, 2 G Davidson & H Lane 42.