DORSET’S Luke Joy was left to rue a near miss at the final Open Championship qualifier in Scotland.

Joy, who won the regional event at Remedy Oak earlier this month, finished in the top 10 at The Musselburgh, one of the four Local Final Qualifying courses.

“It was frustrating because I had given myself an excellent chance,” said the 25-year-old Broadstone professional, who carded rounds of 69 and 71 for a two-under-par total.

“I left a lot of shots out there (on the course), and if a few more putts had dropped I could have been playing in the Open.”

With just three qualifying places up for grabs at each course, Joy was left chasing birdies in his final six holes to reach the six-under-par qualifying mark.

Despite a birdie three at the 13th, Joy dropped shots at the 15th and the last – a demanding 471-yard par four against a strong breeze.

Fellow Dorset professional Paul Jones (Canford) finished in a tie for 18th place after rounds of 72 and 71.

Among the 12 qualifiers for The Open Championship at Muirfield (July 18-21) was Wiltshire’s England international Ben Stow.

The Rushmore Park amateur star won the qualifier at Gullane No 1 course with rounds of 72 and 68.

His two-under-par total was five shots better than former Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie who failed to qualify after finishing in a tie for 13th place.

Joy’s next port of call is Canford Magna Golf Course on Friday to help raise money in the Ben Harvey Memorial Golf Day.

The Broadstone star will be encamped on the 13th hole in a ‘beat the pro’ competition.

Ben, who won the prestigious Peter McEvoy Trophy at Copt Heath in 2001, lost his battle with cancer last July, aged just 28.

Luke and Ben were good friends and Dorset county team-mates.

All proceeds are going towards wards 10/11 at Royal Bournemouth Hospital where Ben received his chemotherapy.