THREE late bogeys deprived Parkstone professional Martyn Thompson of victory in the PGA’s regional qualifier for the flagship event for Britain and Ireland’s top club professionals yesterday.

The 39-year-old, having hit the first 13 greens in regulation at The Players Club, nevertheless tied second and easily qualified for the 72-hole Glenmuir PGA Professional Championship, being played next month at the formidable Dundonald Links, near Troon.

The winner, out in the day’s first three-ball at 8am, was Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy, Newport).

Like so many head professionals attached to clubs, Thompson finds his competitive opportunities are limited, but he still manages to card the occasional classy score.

“I was really pleased with my game today. I hit some very decent shots, the best of them a four-iron 185 yards from a horrible hanging lie at the par-four sixth, which found the green.”

Thompson’s outward 34, thanks to birdies at the first and ninth, was the best of the day. But dropped shots at 12, 14 and 15, took the gloss off a potentially splendid round.

The 14 Bristol qualifiers from a field of 65, will join the West Region’s six exempt players ( Matthew Griffiths, Graham Howell, Andrew Sherborne, Michael Watson, Tony Nash and Jon Bevan) in Ayrshire, where the winner picks up £10,000 and the top 10 finishers are exempt from regional qualifying for the 2010 Open at St Andrews.

Qualifiers: 71 R Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy); 72 K Pitts (Woodspring), M Thompson (Parkstone); 73 J Lee (Caerphilly); 74 C Dun (Marriott St Pierre), B Austin (Downes Crediton), J Goymer (Wheathill), G Licata (Hambrook DR); 75 C Hamblin (Cardiff), A Constable (Cardiff), R Sadler (Killiow), P Barrington (Players Club), R O’Hanlon (Lanhydrock); 76 E Goodwin (Cirencester).