Peter Baker defied the rain to qualify for the Open at Glasgow Gailes

Shropshire veteran Peter Baker capped a fine week by qualifying for next week's 138th Open Championship at Turnberry with a brace of 69s at Glasgow Gailes.

But Shropshire amateurs Duncan Harris and Jon Gidney, along with Bridgnorth pro David James, all bowed out.

Despite a second-day blip of a double bogey seven on the long 14th, Baker's putter worked its magic to qualify for his 14th Open with two shots to spare.

"I putted well and that was the big difference," said the 41-year-old.

"I've been playing well for the last four weeks and not doing it on the greens.

"This week I didn't play that well but I putted well. It's funny how it goes like that."

It completed a great week for the 1993 Ryder Cup player, who assisted fellow former Shropshire amateur Ian Woosnam as vice-captain at The K Club in 2006.

On Sunday, the day before Final Qualifying began on Scotland's West Coast, Baker won the Credit Suisse Challenge in Switzerland for the second time.

I had the luck of the draw on Tuesday morning and got the best of the weather But, most importantly, I putted well Peter Baker on qualifying for his 13th Open Championship

His winning total of 18-under 274 earned him £18,985 to lift him from 31st to 10th on the Challenge Tour - and make him, at almost 42, the Challenge Tour's oldest winner.

But he spent a little of it making the two flights to complete the dash up to Scotland to be on the tee to make his tee time (1046 BST) on Monday morning.

"I had to dash straight off to Basel airport," Baker told BBC Sport. "I only had a 45-minute wait and then still managed to get the last shuttle to Glasgow.

"I was in the hotel by 20 to 12 and, thanks to the luck of the draw, I had a fairly good tee time the following day so it wasn't too bad.

"It then worked out even better for me as I had an early start time on Tuesday morning and definitely got the best of the weather."

Baker now returns to Turnberry to play the course he tackled for the first time in the 1994 Open, when he finished tied for 55th

But Bridgnorth pro James pulled out of the final day at Glasgow Gailes after his first round four-over 75. And two latter-day Shropshire amateurs did not fare so well at Barassie.

Shrewsbury-based Harris finished tied for 43rd at Barassie after following his first day one-under 72 with a 73 - nine shots away from one of the top four qualifying places.

Gidney, from Church Stretton, was even further back in 77th on six-over 152, after successive rounds of 76.

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