06 March 2013 16:11 GMT

South Africa’s Justin Harding is one of three players who will be making their debuts in The Open Championship at Muirfield after securing their places at International Final Qualifying – Africa.

The 27-year-old won the 36-hole qualifying event at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington’s East Course with a 14-under-par total of 130 and will be joined at The Open from 14-21 July by Spain’s Eduardo De La Riva and fellow South African Darryn Lloyd who finished on 11-under and 9-under respectively.

Harding (pictured below), a three-time winner on the Sunshine Tour, managed nine birdies and one bogey in a final round 8-under-par 64 to clinch the first of the three places available in the 142nd Open Championship. It followed a six-under-par 66 in the first round.

“I’m so happy to get through – there are about 70 players here and a lot of them have won tournaments, both on the European and Sunshine Tours, and to get one of only three spots is incredible,” he said. “All of us as youngsters avidly watched The Open over the years and I’m really looking forward to my first Major. With Ernie Els defending it will be a special one, and I’ve heard that Muirfield is a phenomenal place, so everything feels perfect right now.

“To play in The Open is an experience every golfer wants to have. I don’t really have words for it, but I’m sure it will be special. No doubt my dad is already booking the flights, and I can’t wait to enjoy the week.”

Eduardo De La Riva, who finished tied for third at the Bankia Madrid Masters and third outright at the Open de Andalucía del Sol on the European Tour last year, began with an eagle at the first and was five-under-par at the turn. A birdie at the 17th followed to give him a six-under-par round of 66 and a place in The Open.

“This is a dream! I am so excited for my chance to play, and I have some good tournaments before we go to The Open, so I want to prepare my game for July,” said the 30-year-old Spaniard. “For the longest time I have wanted to play The Open, and to finally do it is great, especially amongst so many good South African players. This was a tough race, this week, but the course was perfect and my game was really good, so I’m happy that it all worked out so well.”

Darryn Lloyd (right), who played on the PGA Europro Tour last year, started his final round with an eagle at the first hole and notched up four birdies and four bogeys before birdieing the last to finish on nine-under-par and avoid a play-off with his compatriots Jake Roos and Garth Mulroy who finished one shot further back.

The 23-year-old said, “It’s always been a goal for me to play in The Open, and I’m really glad I could use this opportunity. I live in England and that adds to the importance of this Championship for me – it’s really amazing that I’ll be playing at Muirfield.”

England’s Ross McGowan came up just short in his attempt to play in The Open for the first time since 2010. His four-under-par 68 in the final round left him two shots out of the qualifying spots. The first round leader Andrew Georgiou of South Africa stumbled to a two-over-par 74 to finish four shots back.

Scores after round 2 of IFQ Africa – 2013, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club:

130 (-14) — Justin Harding (RSA) (66,64)

133 (-11) — Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) (67,66)

135 (-9) — Darryn Lloyd (RSA) (66,69)

136 (-8) — Garth Mulroy (RSA) (69,67); Jake Roos (RSA) (66,70)

137 (-7) — Johan Du Buisson (RSA) (71,66); Ross McGowan (ENG) (69,68); Dean Burmester (RSA) (68,69)

138 (-6) — Martin Rominger (SUI) (70,68)

139 (-5) — Shaun Norris (RSA) (71,68); Andrew Georgiou (RSA) (65,74)

140 (-4) — Trevor Fisher (RSA) (74,66); Daniel Van Tonder (RSA) (71,69); Alex Haindl (RSA) (71,69); Bryce Easton (RSA) (71,69); Lyle Rowe (RSA) (70,70); James Kingston (RSA) (70,70); Desvonde Botes (RSA) (67,73)

For the full hole-by-hole scores from IFQ Africa click here.