James Marshall (Westerham) Andrew Reynolds (Royal Cinque Ports) and Jason Barnes (Chart Hills) were amongst the Kent contingent at The London Club Picture: Nick Johnson

Kent's Richard Wallis finished joint winner of Monday's Open Championship Regional Qualifying at the London Club.

The Walmer & Kingsdown GC professional (pictured), who won last year's PGA South Regional Order of Merit and has carried his good form into this year, fired a six-under-par 66 along with Sean Whiffin from The Hertfordshire GC to lead the 17 qualifiers who now go through to next week''s Local Final Qualifying.

Wallis (pictured) and Whiffin finished one shot in front of two other Kent players, Peter Appleyard from Redlibbets GC and Paul Sherman from Ashford GC.

Tom Sherreard from Chart Hills GC, who qualified for the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale as an amateur, took a step closer towards playing in next month's Championship at Royal St George's after shooting a 69. His Chart Hills club-mate, amateur Connor Fletcher, also went through with a 71.

Three other Kent players booked one of the qualifying spots by shooting 70: Francis McGuirk (Prince's), James Marshall (Westerham) and Andy Smith (Tudor Park). A further three, Michael Bush (Hever Castle), Jamie Spence (The Nevill) and amateur Jerome Titlow from the London Club, earned three of the four reserve spots on offer after shooting 72s.

The 17 qualifiers now go forward to next Tuesday's Local Final Qualifying, which is taking place at Littlestone, Prince's Royal Cinque Ports and Rye golf clubs.