TWO-time Open qualifier Martyn Thompson will take the first step towards Royal St George’s at Ferndown on Monday.

Ferndown is one of 16 regional qualifying tournaments with the top 10 players from each course progressing to the final qualifying events at Littlestone, Prince’s, Royal Cinque Ports and Rye on June 28.

Thompson has made it through to the Open championship twice.

The Parkstone professional made his major debut at St Andrews in 1995 and played all four rounds at Carnoustie four years later.

Thompson will be one of 107 players competing at Ferndown. Other Dorset professionals include James Baldwin (Parkstone), Scott Godfrey (Ferndown), Steve Thorne (Canford Magna), Craig Gale (Remedy Oak) and James Wilson (Dudsbury).

Dorset amateurs Robert Mabb, Jon Welch (both Weymouth), Daniel Bishop (Christchurch) and Matt Hector (Ferndown) have also entered.

The first round of the Open championship at Royal St George’s, in Kent, is on Thursday July 14.