PARKSTONE Golf Club's Adan Yates fired a level-par 72 at Remedy Oak yesterday to retain a slender chance of playing in next month's Open Championship.

Yates was one shot shy of reaching a play-off to progress to final qualifying on a tough day for the county's golfers at the regional qualifying event.

South African Martin Rohwer was the standout performer at the Wimborne course, the 23-year-old's five-under-par 67 leaving him one clear of Farrington Park amateur Josh Hilleard.

Sam Boyes, from Hampshire club Corhampton, and Hertfordshire's Sean Whiffin both shot rounds of 70 to book their places in final qualifying on July 4.

Five players tied on 71 entered a play-off for the final two spots available, with the three who missed out joining Yates on the reserve list for the next stage.

Yates's clubmate Thomas Robson went round in a three-over-par 75, the same score posted by Dorset Golf & Country Club's (DGCC) Scott Porter.

Another Parkstone player, James Baldwin shot 79, while Ben Pritchard, the Poole club's fourth representative carded an 81.

DGCC trio Callum Ward, Lewis Gilligan and Dominic Narramore were all unable to break 80. So too Ferndown amateur Justin Morris who came home in 82.

Dominic Knight, who reached final qualifying two years ago and was playing his home course, carded a disappointing 81.

Yates was positioned at 28th on the reserve list after scores across all 13 qualifying courses were processed.

He can take some heart from the case of John Daly in 1991, when the American star won the US PGA title after originally being listed as a ninth alternate for the year's fourth major.