NORTH Yorkshire king of clubs Simon Dyson was back on the upswing despite just missing out on qualifying for this week's Open.

Dyson posted rounds of 68 and 69 for a five-under-par total of 137 at the rock-hard North Foreland course, but finished three shots adrift of the qualifying mark that would have taken him into Thursday's Open at Sandwich.

However, the 25-year-old Malton and Norton ace was far from downcast, revealing to the Evening Press that the two rounds he played were among the best golf of an ill-starred 2003 European Tour campaign.

"I should have breezed it to be honest," said Dyson.

"I played the best golf I have played all year only to be done in by a course which was like concrete."

As evidence of the rock-like conditions of both fairways and greens he recalled how he was three under after eight holes yesterday when he played a five-iron second shot to the ninth green only for the ball to take one bounce and hurtle through the green and out of bounds when he had been looking to pick up at a shot.

After conceding a stroke there he then birdied the next three holes. He had a putt from six feet to go five under, but on the glass-like surface it whizzed past and he ended up dropping another shot.

Another approach shot flashed through a green into bushes after being less than a yard off target and Dyson said he missed birdie chances on both the 15th and 16th holes before bogeying the 17th and thereby ending his qualification chances.

But while he was disappointed at missing out on joining the world's elite when the Open starts on Thursday, he was at least inspired by a return to form after his torrid opening months to the European Tour, compounded by a fracture to his right hand which sidelined him for five weeks.

"I'm feeling better about my game than I have for months. Now I just can't wait for the next event on the Tour which is the Nissan Open in Ireland next week."

While Dyson failed to get into the Open, there will be one east Yorkshire representative with Bridlington Links' assistant professional Chris Smith through to the major event. Smith was third best qualifier at the Littlestone course after rounds of 68 and 69.

However, Selby Golf Club professional Nick Ludwell and his Ganton counterpart Gary Brown, together with Fulford amateur James Duckett, suffered anguish at the Royal Cinque Ports course.

Ludwell - conceding how 'even a bad bounce can get you in trouble' - missed out by five shots on 145 (74 71), while Brown carded 148 (73 75) and Duckett 166 (88 78).

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, July 15, 2003