Oxfordshire's Tom Fleming is hoping to make it third time lucky when he bids for a place at The Open at Muirfield later this month.

Having fallen at the final hurdle last year, the assistant at Frilford Heath is determined to progress this time, though he recognises he will have to be at his best.

Fleming, 31, who topped the regional qualifier at Little Aston in Birmingham after firing a 68 to claim one of the 17 places available for the final qualifiying rounds at North Berwick next Tuesday.

“It would be nice to get through,” said Fleming.

“But it’s a tough event – you have to finish in the top three from about 100 other guys, so there is no room for error.”

Fleming, who competed in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, said he was relishing the challenge.

He added: “The Open is one of the four biggest tournaments in the world, so it would really cap it off to make it.

“You just have to look at the field in my draw to realise how difficult it will be – there are some great players.

“But I am feeling confident – I’ve got as much chance as everyone else. “I’ve got to go out with no fear and not do anything stupid.

“It’s the third time I have reached final qualifying, so it would be great to make it third time lucky.”

Former Oxford City golfer Clive Bowler, the pro at Sonning, also won through to final qualifying, with a round of 74 at Remedy Oak in Dorset.

Martin Dowzall, from Hadden Hill, shot a 72 at the Buckinghamshire, but lost in a play-off for the final qualifying spots.

Former Oxford United footballer Jamie Cook (HeyThrop Park) shot an 80 at The Buckinghamshire.

REGIONAL QUALIFYING SCORES

Little Aston: T Fleming (Frilford Heath) 68, A Souter (Frilford Heath) 74, P Thompson (Bicester) 75, L Jackson (N Oxford) 76, L Robinson (Tadmarton) 77, A Walton (Frilford Heath) 78, C Freeman (Henley) 82.

The Buckinghamshire: M Dowzall (Hadden Hill) 72, H Collins (Frilford Heath) 74, A Wootton (Oxford) 78, J Cook (Heythrop Park) 80, M Haddy (Bicester) 92.

Hankley Common: E Bradley (Frilford Heath) 78, P Gascoyne (The Springs) 78, S McGreal (Hadden Hill) 78, B Millar (N Oxford) 82.

Remedy Oak: C Bowler (Sonning) 74.

Eddie Pepperell will be hoping to put behind the disappointment of failing to qualify for the Open Championship, when he competes in the Irish Open at Carton House.

The 22-year-old Frilford Heath member, who competed in the US Open, needed to finish in the top nine of the International at Qualifier at Sunningdale to reach his second successive major.

But rounds of 74 and 67 gave him a two-over-par total for tied 30th, with the qualifying mark at two under.