Shropshire golfer Ashley Chesters wins a spot at open

The 23-year-old Hawkstone Park player beat Spain's David Morago by a single shot to take the title at Real Club de Golf El Prat in Catalunya after a thrilling final day.

Chesters, from Wem, carded a 76 in his final round, notching a birdie at the final hole. And his work earlier in the week, including a majestic 65 in the second round, meant it was enough to secure the crown.

"This is my best result by a mile," he said.

"I've been saying for a long time I just needed one good week and I got it.

"The 65 was one of the best rounds I've ever played. I don't think I played a bad shot in the round.

"It got very tight at the end, the final round was tough for everyone as the course was a lot more difficult. They'd been watering it all week and then stopped watering it. There weren't many players who went under par."

The win means Chesters, ranked 285th in the world, gets automatic entry to next year's Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. There is also the outside chance he could force himself into the reckoning for next month's Walker Cup in New York.

His second round of 65 was followed by a 70 in the third, which put him four shots clear going into the final day.

Chesters was still four shots clear at the turn but a wayward tee shot out of bounds at the 10th allowed the chasing pack to close.

A bogey at the 17th cut his lead to a single shot but he holed a three footer to birdie the last and clinch victory – though he didn't know it at first.

"It wasn't a long putt by any means but I was still very nervous," said Chesters.

"There were a lot of people about and I was trying to find out how Morago had got on.

"I wasn't immediately sure I had won when I holed the final putt, though thankfully it wasn't too long."