ROBERT Giles got a wake-up call from his Romiley clubmates - and it spurred him into action in the Open Championship regional qualifier at Stockport.

The 31-year-old professional turned up on the first tee bleary-eyed, through countless disturbed nights looking after his baby daughter Amy, and suffering from a loss of form.

But when he spotted some 70 members from his club in the galleries, he decided to give it his best shot

And after a two-under-par 69, he's got one foot wedged in the Open door. Giles, who faces two more qualifying rounds in Scotland, said: "I came into the event not expecting to get through and had been planning to take a month or two off.

"I missed the cut in last week's City of Leeds Cup, which I was defending, because I've not been practising much between working and being a dad. But the members made me concentrate because I did not want to let them down."

Giles hit every fairway in regulation, marking down two birdies and 16 pars, as he finished fourth, five shots behind South African Charl Schwartzel, who broke the course record.

Hoping

Now Giles is hoping history will repeat itself after being the country's only regional qualifier to play all four rounds at Royal Birkdale in 1998.

In joint second place were Rhos-on-Sea professional Mike Macara, whose 68 was matched by Welsh amateur international Lee Harpin.

And among the four who got though after a play-off were Warrington Drive-time's Freddie Valenti and Simon Dewsbury, who is attached to Portal.

Sale's Mike Brunton was one of six players who missed their tee-times at Ormskirk when they became snarled in a traffic jam following an incident on the M6.

Thanking his lucky stars was Preston professional Andy Greenbank, who reached the course early then headed the leaderboard with three-under-par 67.

But round of the day came from Nelson amateur John Cockcroft, who produced an unlikely 68 after reaching the turn in 39, picking up five birdies in an inward half of 29.

Warrington's Graham Cox, former Horwich pro Brian Sharrock and Sandiway's Bobby Young were also among the eight qualifiers.

Former Blackburn striker Roy Wegerle failed in his bid to qualify at Hadley Wood. But James Conteh, son of former boxing world champion John, won with a superb 65 at Northants.