TAUNTON golfer Tom Sloman has qualified to play in The Open Championship which takes place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, next week.

This is the first time the 29 year old who attended Thurlbear Primary School and Bishop Foxes before going onto Hartpury College has taken part in what is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.

Tom came through the junior ranks at Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club where he won the Junior Championship on more than one occasion before going on to be crowned club champion.

Tom represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup in 2019 after which he turned professional. Since then he has enjoyed considerable success on the MENA (Middle East and North Africa ) tour among others.

In recognition of his achievements Tom was made made an honorary member of Taunton and Pickeridge Golf Club.

Last month Tom enjoyed success at the Swiss Challenge event where he ended tied second after rounds of 71, 63, 67 and 68 which earned him almost 17k euros.

To qualify for The Open, Tom firstly won at Ferndown Golf Club where he ended 5 under and then at Burnham and Berrow where he was 8 under over two rounds, in a very strong field that included the likes of Marc Leishman and Anirban Lahiri, both top 50 players.

Regarding his qualifying Tom said: “The Open is the biggest tournament in the world and everyone wants to play in it. It probably won’t sink in that I have qualified until I get there.”