GED Furey spoke last night of the heartbreak of having a place in this week's Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St Annes snatched from his grasp.

The 41-year-old Blackley-born Pleasington professional looked home and dry after shooting a nine-under-par total in the final qualifier at Fairhaven.

And dozens of members from his club who had watched him card a superb second-round 68 left convinced he would be pegging up with the world's greats on Thursday. Furey thought so, too, until a group of late starters matched his score - and he lost in a play-off.

''Four players we weren't expecting to challenge the leaders came in right at the end. I was gutted because I really thought I had made it,'' he said.

''The last time I qualified was at Lytham in 1988 and it was tremendous because I got so much local support. I missed by a shot at St Andrews last year and lost in a play-off the previous season at Carnoustie so I thought this was third time lucky.''

Furey, who staged a grandstand finish with three birdies in the last four holes and an eagle at the 11th, went into the six-man play-off for two spots.

''I lipped out with a birdie chance from six feet and that was that,'' he said. ''I am on stand-by as seventh reserve but there's no way so many will pull out.''

Not one regional qualifier progressed further with Shrigley Hall amateur James Murphy missing by three shots at Southport and Ainsdale after tagging a 72 to his first round 71, one-under-par all told.

''A double bogey at the third after I'd failed to get the ball out of a bunker first time proved costly,'' he said.

Walton Hall's English strokeplay champion Richard Walker saw seven birdie chances stay out at Hillside where he repeated his first round 72 to miss by three.

Hillside was a nightmare for another amateur, Worsley Park's Richard Daniels who posted 83 and 85 - and for Birchwood's Derrick Cooper who finished with matching 79s.

Back at Fairhaven there was also disappointment for Paul Eales who had been desperate to play at Royal Lytham, where he is attached.