Knaresborough golfer John Parry is leading the likes of Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau after the first day at The Open Championship.
Parry, competing in his first Open, shot a three-under par 69 to end yesterday five shots off the lead.
If he posts another good round today he will make the cut for the weekend and play at St Andrews in Scotland alongside the biggest names in the sport.
Parry, who grew up in Knaresborough, is an honorary member of Harrogate Golf Club and still plays the course regularly.
The club, just off the A59, dates back to 1892 and is the oldest in Harrogate.
Club pros Sam Everson and Gary Stothard have known him since their junior days together and Mr Everson said everyone at the club was delighted to see him doing so well:
“He’s a local guy who has worked hard on his game. He’s never got above his station — guys turn up on the tee and he will have a game with them.”
Parry, 35, represented Great Britain and Ireland in the Walker Cup before turning professional at the end of 2007.
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He has competed on the European Tour and even won a tour event but currently plays on the second-tier Challenge Tour.
Parry, who now lives in Leeds, has twice played at the US Open and made the cut on both occasions.
He needed to finish in the top four of the final qualifier to compete at St Andrews this week. He finished joint fourth and then won the play-off.
Mr Everson said:
“You could tell he was talented even at a young age. He had a natural swing and a very gifted short game.”