Sussex golfers set out on a mission impossible this weekend.

They are attempting to qualify for the Open Championship at Troon next week, the equivalent of squeezing through the eye of a golfing needle.

All have successfully negotiated the regional qualifying across 16 courses nationwide but the weeding-out process from an original global entry of 1,600 comes tomorrow and Sunday before the tournament starts on Thursday.

The odds are heavily stacked against any of the Sussex hopefuls finishing in the first three at Glasgow Gailes, Irvine, Turnberry Kintyre and Western Gailes.

Craig McCollum, from Haywards Heath, a former Sussex Boys' champion and fully fledged county player, did himself no harm by shooting 66 to head the regional qualifiers at Hindhead where the greens were like glass.

Come September and McCollum, 21 next month, will try for his European Tour card but now his thoughts are concentrated on a first Open final qualifying at Irvine. He knows the course, having played it last season in the British Amateur.

Steve Fenn, 32, the East Brighton assistant, also topped the regional sorting out at Rochester and Cobham. He fired 68 to lead the pack and was two ahead of Tim Spence, the 2002 Sussex Open champion.

Fenn earned £600 as winner which comes in handy towards an estimated £1,000 outlay for a stab at Glasgow Gailes.

He said: "As long as I am a pro I will always enter the Open.

"It is an experience that I would never miss, no matter how tough. The first time I entered was in 1993 and I keep going. I will play in it as long as I can swing a club and this is the sixth time.

"It is costing me close on a grand to play in Scotland but at least I have gained my first earnings in a major.

"All the competitors know that there are only three spots available at each of the courses and I'll have to play out of my skin to get in but I've been playing well these last six weeks and you never know."

Who does Fenn fancy to take the trophy next Sunday? "You have to be looking at Ernie Els, Retief Goosen or Lee Westwood but I think it could be Sergio Garcia."

Two behind Sweden's Magnus Sunesson in the regional qualifying at Royal Ashdown Forest was Charlie Giddins, the Hastings pro and Piltdown's Jason Partridge with 69s.

Also through are Jon Earl (Ifield) 71, Ryan Fenwick (Bognor) 73 and Alan Tyson (Battle) 74.

Partridge and Giddins have both been to final qualifying before. Partridge said: "Everything depends on the first round. Play poorly and forget going any further. You have to think only about winning."

Jack Budgen, last year's Sussex Amateur champion, had 71 at Minchinhampton putting him on the plane to Scotland together with Holtye pro Kevin Hinton 71.

Elsewhere, it was back to the drawing board for ESN's Ed Rush (140) at Sunningdale while Giles Velvick (Horam), Rob Bright (Bognor) and Arwel Roberts (Worthing) just missed out with 74s at Royal Ashdown.

Richard Hollands (Royal Ashdown) also had 74 and sqeezed into one of the reserve slots. The going there was too tough for Jamie Donaldson (West Sussex) 77, Mike Lindfield (Seaford) 80, Fraser Morley (Hill Barn) and Nick Tull (Goodwood) 81.

Royal Ashdown: Tom Long (ESN) 74, Tony Milbery (Chartham Park) 74, Mark Fairhall (Haywards Heath) 75, Julian Reason (Nevill) 75, Alan Harrison (Royal Eastbourne) 75, Neil Darnell (Rookwood) 75, Dennis Newnham (Crowborough Beacon) 75, x Glyn Bateman (Royal Eastbourne) 76, x Lawrie Tremlett (Lewes) 76.

Mark Saunders (Royal Ashdown) 76, Paul Lyons (Sweetwoods) 77, Billy Turrell (ESN) 77, Matthew Kirby (West Sussex) 77, Jamie Harris (Nevill) 78, Robert Dickman (Cuckfield) 79, Tony Hilton (Mid Sussex) 79, x Rob Gardiner (Crowborough Beacon) 80, Dean Plant (Botley Park) 80, Troy Moore (Willingdon) 82, Daniel Howe (Sweetwoods Park) 84, Chris Lovis (Seaford) 84, Ed Giddins (ESN) 87.

Steve Fenn's four under par 68 won the Hollingbury Park pro-am. Dean Plant ran him close with 69.

Leading pro scores:

68 Steve Fenn (East Brighton).

69 Dean Plant (Botley).

72 Bruce Whalley (Tilgate Forest).

73 Graeme Crompton (Hollingbury Park); Jon Earl (Ifield); Lea Cooper (Tilgate Forest).

Team: Dean Plant, P. Plant, J. Hope, S. Hope -19; 2 Graeme Crompton, P. Crompton, S. Tompsett, P. Weir -18; 3Steve Fenn, P. Felsing, S. Byer, T. Appleby -17.