Former Carisbrooke High School student Brandon Robinson-Thompson has qualified for the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool.
The Islander – who grew up in Freshwater and learned the game at Freshwater Bay Golf Club – achieved qualification by coming 2nd in the Royal Porthcawl Qualifying in Wales on 5th July (Wednesday).
30-year-old Robinson-Thompson gained his qualification with a 4-under-par finish.
He isn’t the first Islander to have made it to the Open Championship though… Alfred Henry Toogood played in 1894 followed by his cousin Walter George Toogood between 1895 and 1911. Rowland Jones also took part in 1905, coming joint 2nd.
In more modern times Isle of Wight professional Brandon has been in superb form of late. At the end of June, he earned himself £15,000 by winning the Northern Ireland Open in Ballymena.
His victory in Northern Ireland qualifies him for the HANDA World Invitational in August at the same venue with an eye-watering $3million in prize money at stake.
Earlier in the year, Brandon also won a MENA (Middle East and North Africa) tour title in in Egypt.
Brandon is currently playing in a tournament in Himmerland in Denmark with a $3million prize pot. He was in 11th place at the end of Round 2 with a score of 2-under-par, 7 shots behind the leader Elvira from Spain.
12 years ago, he took silver at the 2011 Isle of Wight Island Games.
Wow ! Just imagine if an Islander won the Open !
Squadron of pigs flying over at 12 o’clock.