Bradford amateur golfer Darryl Berry came agonisingly close to joining the world's top professionals in the Open Championship at Lytham later this week.

But in the end the West Bradford member's second round 71, after he had been well-placed among the potential qualifiers after a first round 67 at St Annes Old Links, left him two shots away from going through.

A disappointed Berry admitted: "It was my putting that let me down. I hit 16 of the greens in regulation and took 32 putts. The day before I needed just 23 putts.

"It is so disappointing after reaching this stage for the third year running. I was hoping it might have been third time lucky.

"But the standard is very, very high and it seems to get harder to get through every year."

Gary Day, from The Manor, finished a further eight strokes adrift of Berry after two rounds of 73. Among the big-name casualties who won't appear at Royal Lytham on Thursday were current Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance and his predecessor Mark James, from Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Torrance complained of poor marshalling at the Old Links as he crashed out in front of a large gallery with 139, while James had his ball picked up by a spectator on his way to a second round of 72 at Hillside.