Skip to content

Four qualify for 145th Open after top-12 finish at Open de France

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Our Sky Sports The Open channel launches on July 11th with live coverage of the 145th Open at Royal Troon

Four players secured their places in this month’s 145th Open, live on Sky Sports, by finishing inside the top-12 at the Open de France.

Brandon Stoneone of five joint-leaders after the second round at Le Golf National, and Callum Shinkwin will both make their major debuts at Royal Troon from July 14-17, while Alex Noren and Richard Sterne complete the group in the qualification spots.

Stone, who was a European Tour winner earlier in the season on home soil at the South African Open, closed an up-and-down 70 to finish in a tie-for-fifth alongside Andy Sullivan and Martin Kaymer.

Sweden's Noren ended a further stroke back in eighth spot to guarantee his invite, having had to pull out of last year's Open with a wrist injury.

Sweden's Alex Noren lines up a putt on the third green during the last round of the 100th French Golf Open on July 3, 2016 at Le Golf National in Guyancour
Image: Noren missed the cut at last month's US Open

The same problem saw Noren withdraw during his last Open appearance in 2013, with the 33-year-old finishing tied-ninth in the event back in 2012.

Shinkwin made a move up the leaderboard on Sunday to post a three-under 68 and seal his place, posting his season-best finish in the process by ending tied-ninth with Joost Luiten.

Sterne was left with a nervy wait after finishing his round with back-to-back blemishes, but a final-round 69 saw the South African take a tie for 11th.

Also See:

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - FEBRUARY 12:  Richard Sterne of South Africa plays a shot during the second round of the Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club on
Image: Sterne has posted three top-10s so far worldwide in 2016

The top four players finishing inside the top-12 and not already exempt at next week's Scottish Open will also qualify for golf's third major of the year, while the only other spot available goes to the winner of the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship.

Watch the 145th Open from July 11-17 live on Sky Sports The Open - your home of golf

Around Sky