MICHAEL Hunt surpassed even his own expectations at Pleasington yesterday to smash the club's amateur course record.

His 65 left him five shots ahead of he rest of the field and, despite being in the second group out, immediately secured a place in the weekend's local final qulaifying for the Open at St Andrews.

"I wasn't expecting to get anywhere near that score," said Hunt. "The number in my mind was 69, and I thought 70 would proabably do it as well.

"But I prepared the way I wanted to and took the weekend off after being away with Lancashire. I just had some practice on Saturday and it's paid off."

Teeing off at 6.41am, Hunt was storming towards the top of the leader board at his home course almost before the sun was up.

After opening with two pars, five birdies in a row kick started the 28-year-old's record run and, despite dropping one at the eighth, he birded the ninth to go out in 32.

He then made the back nine in one under par to post his daunting score of 65, which beat the previous record by one shot.

"I knew my place was pretty much guaranteed then," said Hunt.

"My approach play was good. The putt on the fourth was about 15 feet but that was the longest."

As it turned out, Hunt's target of 69 would also have topped the board as the next players to make it through the regional qualifier scored 70.

They included Blackburn's Anthony Harwood, who was one of four East Lancashire golfers to secure a spot in Scotland.

Clitheroe's Mark Ashworth also came through with a 71, as did Chorley's Mark Bradley.

A host of players qualified on 72, but despite carding this score, Andy Westwell failed to repeat his qualification of last year, having to settle for a reserve place.

Burnley's Ben Scott is also on the reserve list after his 73.