MELBOURNE: Aaron Townsend, Nick Cullen and Ashley Hall qualified for this year’s British Open Championship after finishing in the top three of Australasia International Final Qualifying on Wednesday.

Townsend finished as the leader after 36 holes at Kingston Heath, shooting a four-under par 140.

Cullen and Hall will join Townsend at the Open after finishing tied for second at one under 143 with veteran Peter Senior. One playoff hole was needed to decide the final two qualifiers. Cullen and Hall each birdied the par-5 hole but Senior made par.

For the three qualifiers this will be their first trip to a major championship. Wednesday’s round was interrupted for more than two hours by high winds and lightning storms which forced the players off the course. The British Open will be staged at Royal Lytham & St Annes from July 19 to 22.