SOUTHEND based professional golfer Matt Southgate finished round one of the Open Championship two over par.

The Thorpe Hall Golf Club member reached Royal Birkdale after winning a qualifier in Deal, Kent.

And after teeing off at just gone midday today, the 28-year-old got off to a promising start.

Southgate broke into the top 20 on the leaderboard after moving one under par.

But Southgate could not better one under par and gradually dropped down the standings.

The regular PGA European Tour participant completed all 18 holes after 72 strokes, leaving him two over par, and found himself tied for 85th on the leaderboard.

Southgate will be hoping that he can move up the leaderboard when his second round gets underway tomorrow, at 7:08am.

The top 70 golfers will then go on to compete in rounds three and four of the infamous competition, after 36 holes have been completed by each of the competitors.