Open qualifying success for a relieved Malcolm Campbell

Last year's Lothians Champion of Champions runner-up cleared the first hurdle in the race for places at Royal St George's along with Archerfield ace Lee Harper and Royal Burgess amateur James Ross.

He secured one of nine spots up for grabs in the regional qualifier at Bruntsfield Links with a two-under-par 69, the same as Harper and one less than Ross.

Campbell started with a bogey and also dropped a shot at the fifth but bagged six birdies on the front nine to be out in four-under. Tree trouble cost him a shot at the 11th before he then three-putted from ten feet at the 12th.

But, though he was left facing a more uncomfortable wait as he'd have liked, Campbell secured his spot in Tuesday's local final qualifying in Kent.

He admitted it will be a nice change to get a chance to get the level of competition he's missing out on at the moment due to handicap ballots.

"I've hardly played since the Scottish Area Team Championship (he was in the Lothians side that finished fourth at Prestwick)," said Campbell.

"I can't get into any of the bigger tournaments and, to be honest, I'm just fed up with it. I'm off 0.0 at the moment and I need to get down to 0.7 or 0.8 to even get into some of the events towards the end of the season."

Harper is back within touching distance of achieving his "boyhood dream" for the second year running.

The former Scottish Boys' champion moved to three-under for his round after hitting a 5-iron to 12 feet for a birdie at the short 12th.

But, after suddenly losing his rhythm and confidence, he needed a great birdie at the last, holing from 20 feet, to avoid finding himself in a play-off.

"When I was coming up the 18th I got my brother to check the scores and he said that I probably needed to be two-under to make it," said a delighted Harper.

He won't get much chance to catch his breath between now and the next stage - a two-rounder over the one day.

"I've got a PGA singles tie tonight against David Laing at Craigielaw then I'm off down to Morpeth tomorrow for a EuroPro Tour event at Longhirst Hall," he said. "I'm then back up the road for a pro-am at Bathgate on Sunday before the local final qualifying next Tuesday."

Ross came in with his one-under-par effort in the final group to set up a four-man play-off for two spots.It was an all-amateur affair with the Barnton player up against Fraserburgh's Jordan Findlay, Gordon Stevenson of Whitecraigs and Aussie Neil McJannet.

Pars proved good enough for Ross and Stevenson to seal their spots at the first extra hole, where Findlay raced a 15-footer past the hole and then missed the return.

"After missing by one shot two years running, I'm pleased to get through this time," said Ross.

"It will be a great experience for me to play against pros next week - it will be interesting to see how my game stands up."

A beaten finalist in the Lothians Championship over the same course, the tall Michigan State student added: "I only missed two greens in regulation, which was pleasing.

"I lost a bit of confidence around the time of the Scottish Stroke-play but it's starting to come back again."

Former European Tour rookie of the year Scott Henderson and amateur ace Paul Shields shared top spot with four- under 67s.

The other places in the first qualifier to be staged at the Capital course went to three others alongside Harper and Campbell on 69.

They were former Scottish PGA champion Chris Kelly, Nairn Dunbar trainee Malcolm Isaacs and Scottish internationalist Peter Latimer. Among those who missed out - both falling just short of that play-off with 71s - were Zander Culverwell and John Gallagher.

Though entered out of Dunbar, Culverwell is also a member at Bruntsfield Links and the Battle Trophy winner fancied his chances on the back of a good performance there in a recent team match.

Alas, he got off to the worst possible start when a lost ball cost him a triple-bogey at the first.

To his credit, the Stirling University student rolled up his sleeves in a bid to repair that damage only to fall agonisingly short.

"The start was a real blow but I played pretty solid thereafter, missing only one other green in regulation," he said.

Gallagher just missed out on making it a notable double success for Swanston New despite holing from 30 feet for a birdie at the last.

"It was a bit of a mixed round, unfortunately," reported the former Scottish amateur champion.

Bruntsfield Links had a tough act to follow after Musselburgh proved such a popular venue for this event in the previous five years.

But David Sandford and his team of volunteers certainly rose to the challenge and it must have pleased the R&A to see a large posse of members heading down the first along with the four play-off participants.