Martin Couvra

Martin Couvra just missed out on a second DP World Tour victory of the season at the Italian Open, but his performance was good enough to secure a first major championship start at Royal Portrush for the 22-year-old from Cannes.

The tournament, part of The Open Qualifying Series, developed into a last round battle with Adrien Saddier and after leading with six holes to go Couvra could not match the back nine 30 of his compatriot, who on his 200th Tour start captured his first title by two strokes.

Couvra was playing only his 15th start on the circuit when he won May’s Turkish Airlines Open by two thanks to a closing 64.

Two years ago he became only the seventh amateur to capture a crown on the second tier HotelPlanner Tour when he fired closing rounds of 66 and 65 and beat Andrea Pavan and Dermot McElroy on the second hole of their play-off in the Challenge de Espana in Almeria.

Winner the previous season of the French stroke play championship he then made history by adding the South African amateur stroke play and match play crowns in back-to-back weeks.