Nathan Kimsey expressed his astonishment and joy after securing a spot in The Open Championship, one of golf's most prestigious tournaments. The 32-year-old golfer, who plays at Stoneham Golf Club in Hampshire, achieved this feat by shooting six under par over two rounds at Royal Cinque Ports, one of the four final qualifying venues.

"Initially, I was just in disbelief," Kimsey told BBC Sport. "I've watched so many Opens over the years, and to be handed that iconic yellow flag afterwards with the logo on it was just surreal."

Kimsey, who will be making his debut at a major, is determined to make the most of this opportunity. "It's kind of cool to know I'll be there playing in the event. I want to enjoy it and make sure I soak up the experience, but I've also been playing good golf recently, and I know if I go there and play well, I can have a great week," he said.

The journey to qualify for The Open Championship was no easy feat. After a regional qualifying round where about 2,000 golfers competed across 15 venues, Kimsey entered the next and final qualifying round on Tuesday. There were 20 spots to be won across four courses, with 288 golfers vying for a chance to reach Royal Portrush.

"It's a really long day, one you just have to battle through as best as you can," Kimsey said. "You're out there for about ten hours, and it was a hot day. We were working away out there, and I managed to play some great golf."

Kimsey, who plays on the DP World Tour, earned his card after success on the Challenge Tour. He has come close to qualifying a couple of times before but finally managed to secure his place this year. "I've got close one or two times [to qualifying], but this year I finally managed to get it done," he added.

The Open Championship will take place at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland from 17-20 July, and Kimsey is ready to compete and make his mark on this grand stage.