Smith’s playing time over the past few months has been severely restricted by an operation on a twisted bowel last year and he admits he entered local final qualifying only because of the proximity of the events.
However, he was not hampered by having to borrow a set of clubs from a member at Maidstone’s Tudor Park golf club, where he is attached, because his irons did not comply with new regulations as he topped the rain-delayed 36-hole qualifier at Littlestone with a four-under total of 138.
“I’ve not really been playing much since my operation and I haven’t got much money at the moment,” said Smith. “I have been doing all kinds of part-time jobs to keep myself going – labouring, landscape gardening for one of my friends, and a bit of work as a carpenter’s mate.
“I’m even using borrowed clubs this week, with one wedge that I found in my garage at home and another wedge that was in the lost property room at Tudor Park.
“My own irons are older and non-conforming to the regulations so I’ve had to borrow a set from a member at Tudor Park.
“I only used them for the first time in practice last week but it’s just like everything has been meant to be. It’s incredible. I’m in a daze.”
In a five-way play-off for the two remaining spots, European Tour professional Markus Brier and Burnham and Barrow’s Lee Corfield made it through.
Extra holes were also required to determine places at two other venues after qualifying was carried over to a second day.
English duo Simon Lilly and Andrew Johnston both came through at Royal Cinque Ports to book their first Open appearances.
Mark Laskey won a play-off against Holland’s Inder van Weerelt to claim the final qualifying spot at Rye.