The Open is open to Coetzee, Walters and Jeong

Three players secured places at The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool following the Joburg Open held last weekend at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club. George Coetzee and Justin Walters of South Africa and Jin Jeong of South Korea gained spots in the second event in the new Open Qualifying Series.

Coetzee won the Joburg Open with a closing round of 66 to finish at 19 under par for the tournament, three shots clear of Walters, Jeong and England’s Tyrrell Hatton. Walters and Jeong edged out Hatton for the Open spots based on their higher positions in the Official World Golf Ranking.

It is Coetzee’s first win on The European Tour, confirming his fourth consecutive Open appearance. His best performance was in 2011 when he finished 15th at Royal St George’s in his major debut. Commenting on his victory Coetzee said, “I’m very happy to have qualified here this week for The Open in front of my friends and family. I focused on winning as I knew that would get me into The Open. I thought about it coming down the stretch but just had to play one shot at a time and lucky for me it worked out today.”

The next event in the Open Qualifying Series is set to take place from 6 to 7 March at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi, Thailand.

R&A picture shows from left: Jin Jeong, George Coetzee and Justin Walters.