WILTSHIRE amateur Ben Stow has earned a sensational spot in this year's Open Championship.

The 22-year-old, from East Knoyle, near Warminster, will be mixing it with the world's biggest stars at Muirfield later this month after winning the local final qualifying event on the Gullane No 1 course in Scotland earlier today.

Wiltshire player Stow, who is also an England international, shot rounds of 72 and 68 to finish top of the pile on two under par and claim one of the three qualifying spots available from the event at that course.

Stow, who spent the early part of the year at college at the University of Kentucky, can now look forward to crossing paths with the likes of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and US Open winner Justin Rose on the event from July 18-21.

Trowbridge professional Steve Surry, based at the Cumberwell Park club near Bradford on Avon, was not too far away from joining Stow, shooting rounds of 75 and 69 to finish just four shots behind.

Eight-time European number one Colin Montgomerie failed to qualify for the Open at Gullane today, with a second round of 76 leaving him five shots off winner Stow.

At one of the other three courses to hold a qualifying event, Dunbar, Cumberwell Park's Charlie Cossins finished tied 18th after rounds of 67 and 71 to finish on two under par.

Another Wiltshire player, Robbie Busher (Salisbury & South Wilts) shot 72 and 75 at North Berwick.

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