WILTSHIRE players Ben Stow and Josh Loughrey narrowly missed out on places in next month's Open Championship at Royal Troon after today's final qualifying series.

Challenge Tour professional Stow, who plays out of the Rushmore club on the Wiltshire/Dorset border, came closest, shooting rounds of 68 and 70 at Woburn to finish six under par, just one shot shy of one of the three qualifying places for the major championship.

Wrag Barn ace Loughrey was in prime position to claim one of three spots at Hillside, near Southport, after shooting a first-round 69, but a second-round 75 dropped him down to tied ninth.

Steve Surry, from the Cumberwell Park club near Bradford on Avon, shot rounds of 75 and 77 to finish down the field, while clubmate Laurie Canter withdrew from the competition at Royal Cinque Ports in Kent..