SELBY Golf Club professional Nick Ludwell enjoyed a roller-coaster ride on his Open debut at Hoylake yesterday.

Ludwell, who qualified for the world-famous competition at his seventh attempt, finished with a three-over par score of 75 after yesterday's first round, placing him alongside Ryder Cup stars Padraig Harrington, Ian Poulter and Barry Lane overnight.

His efforts left him nine shots behind first-round leader Graeme McDowell but the former Brayton schoolboy's round could have been much closer to the Irish pace-setter.

The 34-year-old ex-England amateur international, pictured below left, was one-under par through 13 holes but a triple bogey on the 456-yard, par four 14th saw him plummet down the leaderboard.

He then bogeyed the par four 17th before parring the 18th to complete a back nine that had started so promisingly with birdies on the tenth and 12th holes.

Earlier, Ludwell made an excellent start to his Open challenge, shooting a birdie three on the 454-yard, par four first hole but he followed that with back-to-back bogeys on the next two holes.

He then showed consistency to shoot eight pars and two birdies during the next ten holes before the 14th hole sabotaged his round.