MALTON & Norton golf ace Chris Halley suffered play-off agony in his bid to qualify for The Open Championship.

Halley, who turned professional in March and qualified for the EuroPro Tour, fired a one-over-par 72 at regional qualifying for the Major at Moortown Golf Club, in Leeds.

With ten qualifiers to come from the venue, Halley was close to the top of the leaderboard throughout much of the day and, in tough scoring conditions, finished tied for seventh - three shots behind the overall winner, James Hepworth.

With seven other players having carded the same score, Halley then went into an eight-man play-off with four spots at final qualifying up for grabs.

But the Yorkshire Amateur and Yorkshire Order of Merit champion last year was unable to book his place in the lucky quartet and is now the 30th reserve.

Final qualifying, which will be staged at Hillside, Gailes Links, Sunningdale New and Woburn will be held on July 1 ahead of the championship itself, which is being staged at Royal Liverpool from July 17 to 20.