Baker bids for Birkdale berth

Sunday 29th June 2008, 9:05AM BST.

Shropshire golfer Peter Baker attempts to book his place in the field for this year’s Open Championship on Monday, writes James Garrison.

The player who learned his trade at Lilleshall Hall does battle with 119 fellow European Tour professionals in the 36-hole event at Sunningdale for one of 12 berths at Royal Birkdale.

And Baker is desperate to take his place in the third Major of the year.

“All the Majors are special, and that’s especially the case with the Open when it’s at Royal Birkdale because it’s my favourite course,” he said.

“It’s tough because there are not many spaces on offer and you have to play well for 36 holes.

“But I feel I’ve been playing some decent golf and if I perform on the day, I’ve got a good chance.

“I like links golf and usually play well on those courses so it’s a shame we don’t play more of them throughout the year.”

Baker will be joined in the Sunningdale line-up by Simon Wakefield, who is based on the Shropshire border at Eccleshall.

Monday’s action begins a vital 48 hours for Shropshire’s Open hopefuls with a string of leading county amateurs and club pros heading to Enville and Coventry for the first round of regional qualifying on Wednesday.