Bishop’s Stortford golfer Max Hopkins competes with Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell in final qualifying for The Open 2025

Max Hopkins lined up alongside some big names when his dreams of competing in The Open were dashed at the final hurdle.

The Bishop’s Stortford Golf Club member took part in one of the four final qualifying rounds, held across the country, with places at next week’s 153rd Open up for grabs.

Hopkins was part of a field that included professional stars Ian Poulter - a five-time Ryder Cup winner with Europe - and 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal, Kent last Wednesday (July 2).

A top-five finish was required to qualify for next week’s major, which is taking place at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, and Hopkins tied for 21st.

The Stortford player, who came first and second at the prestigious Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship as a teenager in 2017 and 2019 respectively, had secured his place in the final qualifying round by coming fourth in the regional qualifier at Cambridge’s Gog Magog Golf Club. Only nine players from each of the 15 regional rounds advanced.

The Royal Cinque Ports competition was a 36-hole affair and Hopkins opened with a one-over-par round of 73.

A strong wind increased as the blisteringly hot day went on and Hopkins, who attended Hockerill Anglo-European College in Stortford and Leventhorpe School in Sawbridgeworth, finished with a level-par round of 72 for a total of 145 and a share of 21st place.

Poulter and McDowell fared slightly better on 143, but both also missed out on a place at The Open.

The five successful qualifiers were winner Dean Burmester, who scored 134, Nathan Kimsey, Curtis Knipes (both 138), leading amateur Sebastian Cove (139) and John Axelsen (140).