Gareth Maybin got the best possible fillip ahead of the Irish Open when the 32-year-old Ulsterman yesterday came through the gruelling 36-holes International Qualifying at Sunningdale to book his ticket into next month's British Open.
Maybin bounced back from a missed cut in the BMW International in Munich to shoot rounds of 67 and 69 over the New and Old Courses at Sunningdale, to finish in tied-third behind American Brooks Koepka.
Koepka, who has been promoted to a full European Tour card on the back of three wins already this season on the Challenge Tour, led the way with rounds of 69-65 for 134.
But Maybin secured his place in the field, giving him a second appearance in the Major. He missed the cut in the 2010 championship at St Andrews.
With nine places available, Argentine Estanislao emerged from a four-man play-off that also featured Ross Fisher, David Drysdale and Alejandro Canizares to book the final available spot.
But Michael Hoey with whom Maybin played for Ireland in the 2007 World Cup in 2007 in China missed out recording 140 with scores of 71 and 69 to put him outside the top 20.
Six players
Meanwhile, Old Conna's Neil O'Briain fired a one-under-par 70 to lead the way home in the Regional Qualifying at The Island Golf Club yesterday.
O’Briain was one of six players – along with David Jones, Michael McGeady, David Rawluk, Brendan McCarroll and Danny Sugrue – who earned places in next week’s Local Final Qualifying in Scotland.
Royal Portrush Amateur Matthew McAlpine, who qualified for the match-play stages of the Amateur in Kent last week, fell by the wayside with a 77.