Townsend wins Australasian British Open qualifier

MELBOURNE, Australia – Australian Aaron Townsend shot a pair of 2-under 70s to win the Australasian qualifying tournament for this year’s British Open by three strokes.

Australians Ashley Hall (71) and Nicholas Cullen (73) took the other two qualifying spots up for grabs at Kingston Heath Golf Club after beating Champions Tour regular Peter Senior (71) in a playoff.

The three golfers had finished tied for second at 1-under 143 after two rounds of regulation.

The British Open will be held from July 19-22 at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s in northern England.

The next international qualifying tournament will be Jan. 18-19 at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington in South Africa.