OPEN DREAM COME TRUE

Amateur ace Connor tees-up spot at Royal Portrush after sinking winning birdie putt in thrilling play-off

- STUART MCFARLANE

Perthshire golfer Connor Graham is preparing to tee it up alongside the sport's elite after surviving the sport's so-called “longest day”.

The 19-year-old, who plays as an amateur, was one of those hoping to secure five qualifying places for the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush later this month in final qualifying at Dundonald Links.

The qualifying event sees golfers compete across 36 holes in a single day, with those top five securing a golden ticket to one of golf’s Majors.

He began his day with a one-under-par round of 71 to keep him in touch with that top five and followed that with an excellent three-under-par score of 69 to finish the event on four-under-par overall.

It meant a nervous wait to see if he had qualified as some top scores started to flood in across the golf course.

In the end, that finish secured him tied fifth alongside fellow Scot Paul O'Hara — meaning a nerve-shredding playoff between the pair was required to settle the final spot on the Northern Irish links.