STYAL Golf Club’s rookie professional David Horsey was celebrating after earning a place in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Just over a week after securing his first professional victory on the PGA Challenge Tour, Horsey hit 68 and 67 for a five-under par that saw him tied for seventh in the international final qualifier at Sunningdale.

The former Walker Cup star, who hit three eagles over the Surrey course, said: "I’m so excited I wasn’t bothered if I’d finished, first or 18th.

"I drove all the way down from competing in Edinbrugh on Sunday night and I was shattered by the time I got to Sunningdale."

Last week, 22-year-old Horsey won the Telenet Trophy in Belgium and moved into the top 10 in the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

Horsey’s former England and Cheshire County team-mate Paul Waring also qualified for Royal Birkdale, but Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Jose Maria Olazabal all missed out.