Sheringham teenager Ed Featherstone will rub shoulders with some of golf’s big guns when he tees up on July 1 in Final Qualifying for The 153rd Open Championship.

Featherstone will play in Somerset at Burnham & Berrow Golf Club as part of a 71-strong field that includes former Ryder Cup golfers, as well as winners from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.

Among those in action are 2025 Indian Open champion Eugenio Chacarra and Abraham Ancer, who has triumphed on the PGA Tour and the LIV Golf circuit.

Also competing are Eddie Pepperell, Chris Wood and Oliver Wilson, each of whom has extensive DP World Tour experience.

Norfolk Amateur champion Featherstone, 19, said: “The beauty of the format is that it’s 36 holes on one day. I think we’ve got to the level where any of us, if we have a good day, have got a chance.

“There’s obviously a difference between elite amateurs and the professionals – and they are in a different league more consistently. But on one day and over two rounds I think anything can happen. It just takes a little bit of luck.”

All in the field are trying to earn a golden ticket for Royal Portrush, which stages the final major of the year on July 17-20.

A handful of places are likely to be up for grabs at Burnham & Berrow with a minimum of 20 spots across four different final qualifiers expected to be offered by the R&A – although the final figure has yet to be confirmed.

Featherstone ensured his tee-time on the Somerset links with an excellent display in Regional Qualifying on June 23.

He shot a three-under-par round of 67 to finish joint-first at Gog Magog Golf Club just outside Cambridge.

Featherstone said: “The putter warmed up on the back nine and I holed a few 15, 20-foot putts. I’m pretty happy with how I scored considering I didn’t feel I had my full game there. I didn’t birdie any of the easy holes, I just seemed to birdie the hardest ones!”

Featherstone’s preparations for the biggest day of his career to date will include a little help from a friend.

One of Ed’s fellow students during his first year at University of Arkansas at Little Rock was Freddie Turnell, who happens to be a member at Burnham & Berrow.

Not only that, but Turnell is playing in the three-ball immediately behind him on Tuesday morning – and the two of them are due to play a practice round together across the 6,870-yard par-71 lay-out.

Featherstone said: “He knows it like the back of his hand. He’s going to tell me where to go and some tricks around there. Hopefully I can get bit more knowledge from him.”

Featherstone will be up bright and early for a 7a.m first-round tee-time. At its conclusion, he will have a short break before starting round two at 12.30pm.

He said: “I can’t wait. It’s going to be great fun – a great opportunity, I think.”.