ASHFORD professional golfer Benn Barham has achieved one of his biggest ambitions and qualified to play in The Open Championship at Muirfield this week. He has been going well on the Challenge Tour and finished joint winner of the qualifying tournament at Luffness New course.

Barham, winner of the 2001 NCC Open in Sweden on the Challenge Tour, secured his place in his first Open championship with a fine 65 and 68 for a winning 133 total to be one of the seven qualifiers at the venue. It was the same score as fellow qualifiers Andrew Coltart with a 61,72 and Peter Baker 65, 68.

Barham said: "I was lucky on the Monday teeing off early in the best of the conditions but it was much toughter the next day as the wind got up." That first day he produced a bogey-free round to finish four under par. It included a superb eagle on the fourth hole which gave him a tremendous boost.

But he then had to keep his nerve on the second day as the field battled the conditions and each other for the few qualifying places. He said: "I am just so pleased to get through and now my ambition is to finish in the top 25 who I won't have to qualify for the Open when it comes to Royal St Georges in Kent."

Barham, who is now attached to Chart Hills, started playing golf as a 12-year-old at Ashford and won the Kent Amaeur and junior titles in 1994.

* Cranfield Golf Academy are to take over at Chart Hills at Biddenden from the David Leadbetter Golf Academy. They will provide all the golf tuition for members as well as club and corporate clients.