THE chance to take on the best golfers in the world is only two good rounds away for five East Midlands professionals.

The final qualifiers for this year's Open Championship are to be played on Monday and Tuesday, with Paul Wesselingh (Kedleston Park), James Whatley (Morley Hayes), Darren Bartlett (Erewash Valley), Ian Walley (Shirland) and Eddie Vernon (Burton) hoping to earn the chance to play at Royal Birkdale.

Making it through will be tough, with only four qualification places on offer from fields of 96 golfers in each of the three finals venues.

Bartlett, Walley and Whatley will play at Hillside, while Wesselingh and Vernon are through to the qualifier at Southport and Ainsdale.

Three of the five had to go through via this week's regional qualifiers to get this far. Bartlett finished second at Coventry with a round of 68 and Vernon was close behind on 69, while Walley shot 69 to finish third at Enville.

The Open will be played at Royal Birkdale from July 17-20.