Aussie duo lead in bid for Open places

australian duo Neven Basic and Chris Gaunt are in a share of the lead after the first round in the Australasian final qualifying event for The Open.

With three places in July’s championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes up for grabs, Basic and Gaunt both shot three-under-par rounds of 69 at the Kingston Heath course in Melbourne.

Among a group of eight players just one stroke behind at two under par were Kurt Barnes, Aaron Townsend and David Bransdon.

Terry Pilkadaris (71), Ashley Hall (72), James Nitties (72), Peter Senior (72) and Peter Lonard (73) were also all within touch in the battle to play in The Open.

“This is my third go at qualifying, I missed by one about four years ago which hurt,” Basic said.

Veteran Craig Parry, who finished tied for fourth in the Open at Carnoustie in 1999, struggled on the greens in his opening round in Melbourne and signed for a two-over 74.