AMATEUR John Cockroft played one of the rounds of his life to make it through regional qualifying for the Open with a stunning six-under-par 66 at Wilmslow.
The 21-year-old Nelson player was one of only three local golfers who made it through regional qualifiers yesterday.
Pleasington duo Ged Furey and Daniel Lord are also through to final qualifying.
Cockroft, who works in the pro's shop at Mytton Fold, said he was delighted to be through but was not counting on getting through 36-hole final qualifying next Sunday and Monday.
"I don't expect to do anything at final qualifying," he said. "I will be up against the likes of Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam, former Ryder Cup players.
"I will just have to get myself in a frame of mind to play well instead of being overawed."
Cockroft birdied five of the back nine holes at Wilmslow yesterday to smash his personal target of three under par.
"I thought three under would have been good enough and that was my target but in the end three under was only good enough to play off.
"I was lucky because I played at eight in the morning so I finished by 11. If I'd only shot three under I would have been waiting around for six or seven hours for the play off and I don't know what my chances would have been then."
Cockroft went into regional qualifying claiming he was under 'no pressure' and hopes to carry that with him this weekend.
"When I read what I'd said in the paper about being under no pressure I thought 'what am I going to look like if I shoot 81 now?' but I really didn't feel any pressure.
"I would have only felt pressure if I'd been one or two under with a few holes to go, knowing I would have to play really well.
"All I was thinking was 'if I keep it in play I'll be alright!'
"Down the back nine I played ballistic, I couldn't stop missing putts."
Pleasington-attached professional Daniel Lord overcame a back injury to get through regional qualifying at Alwoodley, Leeds.
"I was in bed for two days beforehand and I wasn't even going to go," said the delighted 27-year-old.
"But my wife prised me out of bed and got me into my car and on my way.
"I missed the first three practise shots I tried but then I took some painkillers and cobbled together this hip-high swing and chipped my way round.
"I think that helped me in the end because it lowered my expectation greatly.
"If I'd been fit and healthy I probably would have tried too hard and overpowered the course so it might have worked in my favour.
"The course was tough in places but I didn't miss a fairway all day."
Pleasington pro Ged Furey was the third East Lancashire player to make it through after shooting 66 -- the second best score for the day -- at Carlisle.
"Well done to Ged," said Lord. "It was another good day for Pleasington."
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