Porter claims his spot in the Open

Superb rounds of 66 and 69 sent Ewan Porter flying through the Open Championship qualifying tournament in his home city Sydney today.

The 24-year-old finished the 36-hole event at The Lakes on 11 under par for a three-shot win over former World Cup winner Peter Fowler.

An opening 74 left Fowler eight off the pace, but the 47-year-old came storming through with a second round 64.

Three more Australians - Scott Laycock, Ben Bunny and Chris Campbell - were three strokes further back in joint third place and so went into a play-off for the two remaining spots on offer. Campbell was the unlucky one to miss out.

Craig Parry, who led at Carnoustie in 1999 with seven holes to play and missed the play-off by one shot, finished only joint 13th on one under.