ANTHONY Sproston has offered some timely encouragement for the 40-plus players from the Manchester area heading for Scotland tomorrow to practise for the Open Championship qualifying rounds at the weekend.

The High Legh Park teaching professional made it all the way to the first tee at Royal St George's last year after first winning a reserve spot following a play-off at regional level at Stockport, then clearing the final hurdle at North Foreland.

Sproston, along with several other `no hopers', proved that the Open door is never closed to players who want to pass through it and turn a dream into a reality. "There are only a handful of places up for grabs at each of the four final venues, but if I can do it, so can anyone else," he said. "It took me 13 attempts before I achieved it last year, but it was worth it in the end, so you must never give up trying.

"Obviously, you have to play well, but you also have to enjoy yourself. It's a great experience and once you get a taste of it you want more.

Fortunate

"I was fortunate to shoot nine-under-par and qualify last time, and I mean to do it again despite the fact that I'm 40. And it would be great if a few more local boys joined me.

"I've been working hard at my game and regularly consulting my coach Ian Lee, the professional at Haigh Hall.

"My game's in great shape and I know I will be further inspired when I get up to Scotland."

Sproston, along with M.E.N. Manchester Open champion Jon Cheetham from Mobberley, was exempt from regional qualifying and competes in the final two rounds at Glasgow Gailes.

Other courses are Irvine, Turnberry Kintyre and Western Gailes, which are all within close proximity of Royal Troon, where the Open swings into action next Thursday.

Among those who still can't believe he's made it this far is Hopwood amateur Andy Terry, who a year ago was playing off a four handicap.

He went part-time at Springfield Park, where he works in the shop, to concentrate on his game and has reduced his ranking to scratch.

That came courtesy of from several wins at Hopwood and a course record five-under-par 63 at Springfield.

"I'm still in a state of shock," he said last night. "I only got through after a 10-man play-off for four spots at Pleasington, and thought I'd blown it at the first extra hole when I drove into the rough.

"Luckily, I got on the green and saved par, then on the second I hit the best two iron of my life to eight foot. I missed the birdie but the par was enough." Tweet