Golf Australia/AIS National Squad Member Rohan Blizard has qualified for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after finishing in a share of second place at Local Final Qualifying at Hillside. The 2007 Australian Amateur Champion claimed his place in the field by firing a 36-hole total of one-under alongside Jean Van De Velde, who went down in Open Championship infamy after his memorable 72nd hole adventure at Carnoustie in 1999. Blizard joins 16 of his countrymen in the field of the prestigious Major including Adam Scott, Geoff Ogilvy, Aaron Baddeley, Greg Norman and Craig Parry who won the Australian Open crown the same year that Blizard claimed the Leading Amateur Medal. Peter Knight, Director of Elite Development at Golf Australia said, It is a phenomenal achievement by Rohan to negotiate the demanding qualifying process and book his spot in the 2008 Open Championship. His positive attitude and talents have been evident throughout the years he has spent in the AIS National Squad. Rohan is a former Australian Amateur Champion, Leading Amateur at the Australian Open, Ross Herbert Memorial Scholarship winner and Australian representative on numerous occasions and we will be following his progress with interest. The Open Championship commences on July 17.