Shropshire's Ashley Chesters: I hope I've made my family happy
Ashley Chesters celebrated making the cut at The Open by dedicating his success to family and friends.
The Shropshire amateur golfer bounced back from a late first-day collapse to shoot a second-round 72 at St Andrews.
That left the 26-year-old one under for the tournament and above the likes of Tiger Woods, Stephen Gallagher and Keegan Bradley.
Hawkstone Park member Chesters admitted relief at hitting a par on the 18th, the scene of his double bogey 24 hours earlier.
"All I wanted to do was make sure it got past the hole," said Chesters, who missed the cut by one shot last year at Hoylake.
"I think it made my family and the friends, who were up watching me, a little happier than they were the night before.
"I had quite a good finish compared to Thursday and I'm really happy that I'm getting to play the weekend.
"There's quite a few amateurs made it so it should be a good battle for the Silver Medal."
Chesters was forced to wait more than three hours to start his second round after torrential rain yesterday morning left parts of the Scottish course flooded.
And when he did get under way a bogey on the second left Chesters, who had been five under with three holes to go on Thursday, level par for the tournament.
But the European Amateur champion recovered his composure to birdie the fifth and ninth. He dropped a shot on the 12th and 14th but a birdie on the 15th brought Chesters level par for the round.
And he safely negotiated the last three holes that had set him back on day one to make sure he extended his weekend.
Shrewsbury-born Sandy Lyle finished the day three over par. The 1985 champion hit a second-round 76.
