HOME player Dominic Knight headlines a strong Dorset contingent launching its bid to qualify for the Open Championship in today's regional qualifier at Remedy Oak.
Knight was still an amateur when he progressed to final qualifying and pitted his wits against the likes of Colin Montgomerie and two-times US Open champion Retief Goosen at Woburn two years ago.
The 23-year-old is due on the first tee at 1.29pm, with his sights set on competing in the Open's 146th edition at Royal Birkdale next month.
Knight won his first professional title at the Dorset and Wiltshire PGA Medal earlier this year and leads an 11-strong pack of local players featuring at the Wimborne course.
Dorset Golf & County Club quartet Scott Porter, Callum Ward, Lewis Gilligan and Dominic Narramore are also in action at Remedy Oak. They are joined by Ben Pritchard, James Baldwin, George Long, Thomas Robson and Adan Yates from Parkstone and Ferndown amateur Justin Morris.
The initial objective is to bank a place in final qualifying on July 4 to be held across five courses – Gailes Links, Notts Hollinwell, Hillside, Royal Cinque Ports and Woburn.
Sweden's Henrik Stenson is the defending Open champion and will be seeking to retain the Claret Jug when the year's third major gets underway on July 20.
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