Whitnell has qualified for the Open Championship (From Gazette)

Whitnell has qualified for the Open Championship

12:06pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Golf news

DALE Whitnell will be lining up alongside golf’s biggest names on the greatest stage of all at the 2012 Open Championship.

The 23-year-old from Tiptree has qualified for the Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes on July 19.

It will be Whitnell’s first taste of action in one of the four Major tournaments and he booked his place in style.

The Five Lakes member finished top of the pile at final regional qualifying at Hillside Golf Club in Southport as rounds of 68 and 67 gave him a nine-under par total to keep him one clear of the field.

And Whitnell, who played in the 2009 Walker Cup, is relishing his chance.

He said: “I’m over the moon, it’s a fantastic opportunity.

“It will be my first Major and I’m really pleased that it’s at Royal Lytham as well.

“It’s a course that holds good memories as I was runner-up in the Lytham Trophy as an amateur and have played it loads of times, so it’s a perfect venue for me really.

“I’ve played on the European Tour enough to know I can compete with the best golfers, but this is going to be on another level.

“It will be a better calibre of field than I’ve ever faced before, but I have to try my best.”