By Amanda Little

Last updated 12:32, Wednesday, 09 July 2008

Cumbrian golf star Craig Goodfellow admitted he was devastated after missing out on a chance to play at next week’s Open Championship by a single shot.

Goodfellow finished fifth at yesterday’s regional qualifier at Hillside with a level par 144, with the top four winning a place at the Open at Royal Birkdale, which starts on Thursday week.

The Carlisle Driving Range professional finished one shot behind Frenchman Jean Van De Velde, but five ahead of Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart, who also missed out.

Goodfellow was in with an excellent chance of qualifying after shooting one-under-par on the front nine but he then dropped four early shots on the back nine, before birdieing the 17th.

He said: “I’m absolutely gutted as I was so close. The weather was terrible so when I came in there was only one person under par, so I thought I had a great chance.

“The disappointing thing is that one shot has cost me thousands as even finishing well down the field at the Open would have earned me some prize money. I’ve ended up with nothing.”

Van de Velde will be back on the Open stage after a last-hole birdie sealed a one-under-par total of 143.

The 42-year-old Frenchman, famed for his last-hole disaster at Carnoustie in 1999, pitched to within 18 inches of the flag on the 439-yard 18th. But that would have been of no use if his ball had been lost in thick rough off the 17th fairway.

“I might have taken eight on the hole, but managed to par it,” said Van de Velde, who had asked for better crowd control after his opening 70 on Monday.

“The crowd were on my side both days, but just a little bit too close to my side at times. People are trying to communicate with you, but sometimes they were so excited they got in my way and I felt I had to say something.”

Van de Velde added: “It means a lot to be playing in it again. There are only two tournaments a year I want to play in and play good in - the French Open and the Open. I qualified in 1999 and played quite well, so maybe this is my chance.”