Randhawa qualifies for British Open

Jyoti Randhawa, Australians Kim Felton and Scott Barr and Yoshinobu Tsukada of Japan booked places in this year’s British Open after th...

Jyoti Randhawa, Australians Kim Felton and Scott Barr and Yoshinobu Tsukada of Japan booked places in this year’s British Open after the Asian leg of international qualifying on Wednesday.

Randhawa, Felton and Barr finished on five-under-par 139 at Saujana Golf and Country Club. Tsukada secured the fourth and final spot by edging out compatriot Sushi Ishigaki and Jeev Milkha Singh in a sudden-death playoff.

Overnight leader Britain’s Simon Yates, a former professional skier, would have secured his Open berth had he not missed an eight-foot birdie putt at the final regulation hole.

The 34-year-old Scot, who added a two-over-par 74 to his opening 66, then withdrew from the playoff, which was halted for an hour following a weather delay.

“It’s always a dream to play in the Open,” Randhawa told reporters after returning a 68. “I didn’t hit it great over the last two days, but I just hung in there and waited for something to happen.”

The 36-hole qualifying tournament is one of five taking place around the world between January and June.

The final two qualifiers are scheduled for June 28 at Sunningdale Golf Club, England and at Congressional Country Club, Maryland in the United States.