MATT Southgate celebrated making the third round of the Open Championship by finishing three below par today.

The Southend-born golfer made the top 70 golfers in the 167th Open Championship to qualify for the final two rounds at Royal Birkdale.

And having finished each of the opening two rounds on two over par, Southgate went into the third round of the Merseyside course four over par.

But the Thorpe Hall Golf Club member, who won a qualifier in Deal, Kent, to make the major, played some impressive shots to finish all 18 holes in 67 strokes - which is three below par.

As a result, the 28-year-old goes into the fourth and final round, which will take place tomorrow, just one over par.