It was a case of third time lucky for former Irish amateur international, Hugh Smyth, when he carded a two under par 70 to share first place with America's Bill Brask at the qualifying competition for the Senior British Open, presented by MasterCard, at Kilkeel GC.

Smyth (53), from Mourne, has missed out on a place in the Senior British Open for the last two years but this time he made no mistake after going out in three under par 34 and then coming home in one over par 36.

The former East of Ireland champion got off to the best possible start when he birdied the 480 yard par five first hole. He seemed to be coasting into his first Senior British Open when he added four further birdies at the fifth, sixth, tenth and eleventh but then had an anxious wait to see if he would finish as leading qualifier after three consecutive bogeys from the 14th.

England's Peter Ward led the qualifiers at the other Qualifier at Spa GC.

The club pro at Teignmouth recorded a two under par 70 to finish a single shot ahead of America's Kurt Cox, Canada's John Irwin, Australia's Geoff Parslow and England's Mike Steadman.

BBC golf commentator, Julian Tutt, missed out on a place in the Senior British Open when he carded a ten over par 82 at Spa. That was six shots above the cut off point on 76.

Former Wimbledon double champion, Sherwood Stewart, was another casualty. He carded a seven over par 79 at Kilkeel.