Shropshire Star

Shropshire's Ashley Chesters focused after dream start at The Open

Ashley Chesters has vowed to keep his feet on the ground after his Open Championship heroics as he continued his quest to make the cut at Hoylake this afternoon.

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The 24-year-old amateur from Hawkstone Park grabbed plenty of the opening day headlines after a stunning two-under-par round of 70 in the biggest round of his life.

That left Chesters in a share of 19th spot at the end of day one, just four shots adrift of leader Rory McIlroy, one stroke behind Tiger Woods and ahead of many of the sport's biggest names.

The top 70 and ties at the end of today's second round – with Chesters off at 12.32pm – will make the final two rounds over the weekend.

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But Chesters, a long-time regular for the Shropshire & Herefordshire team and an England international, has vowed not to get carried away with his sublime early form.

Ashley Chesters during day one of the 2014 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Hoylake

"It was a great day and I couldn't have asked for much more than a round of 70," said Chesters, who qualified for this week's third Major of the year after winning last summer's European Amateur Championship in Spain.

"But it's only one round and, if things go as I hope, there is still another three rounds to go and a lot of work to do.

"I'm really happy with the start but I want to keep things going."

Chesters' brilliant display has put him in pole position to win the coveted Silver Medal, the prize for the leading amateur at The Open.

His three other rivals for that crown are all at least four shots adrift of Chesters after day one.

Highly-rated Scot Bradley Neil, winner of the Amateur Championship last month, found the going tough as he carded a seven-over-par 79.

Ireland's Paul Dunne bogeyed three of the last six holes to drop back to three over par. The fourth amateur in the field, Pan Cheng-tsung of Taiwan, shot 74.

But Chesters has no plans to amend his targets.

"All my focus at the start of the week was on playing well and that's still the case now," he added.

"I have never been so nervous than I was on that first tee yesterday but now I've done one round, hopefully it will get a bit easier."

Chesters, who is the leading Englishman, was cheered on by a large following from Hawkstone Park.

"It was brilliant going round," he said. "So many cheers and so much support from people I know. In fact, the only person I didn't see was my mum. But I think she might have been hiding somewhere. She gets very nervous watching me play."

Another Hawkstone Park man, former Open champion Sandy Lyle, added to yesterday's woes today as he moved to three over after two holes and 13 over for the tournament.

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