CHARLOTTE ELLIS admitted that the experience of walking the Turnberry course on Tuesday was “surreal”.

On Monday morning, she faced watching the Ricoh Women’s British Open on TV – by the evening she had earned a deserved place in the field chasing a £2m prize fund by topping the final qualifying with a scintillating five-under par round of 69.

Ellis, 29, and a member of Minchinhampton (New) Golf Club, has been enjoying her most consistent season as a pro with four top-ten finishes in South Africa this spring and her best ever placing on the main European Tour (27th) in Morocco's Lalla Meryem Cup.

And she clearly likes the Scottish air. Four years ago, before turning pro, she carded three birdies over her last six holes to overtake Leona Maguire and win the Helen Holm Scottish Women’s Open Stroke Play Championship at Troon – her biggest success as an amateur.

Returning to Ayrshire on Monday and competing against a very strong field, the unheralded Ellis, from Cockleford, near Cheltenham teed off in the first group of the day at 7.30am but recorded a score that no one could match.

She made six birdies and the only blemish on her card came at the 18th hole when she drove into a pot bunker on the fairway and made a bogey.

“I can't tell you how excited I am," said Charlotte. "It has always been a dream of mine to play in the British Open. A couple of years ago I was beaten in a qualifying play-off which was hard to take.

“I’m just happy to be here. It’s not stopped raining since I have been up in Scotland but I couldn’t care if it snowed.

“I have never played Turnberry before but I did caddy for a former boyfriend in the British Amateur here and I vowed then I would love to come back and play it. Walking the course on Tuesday was surreal.

“It is overwhelming. I have no expectations but at same time I want to show the world what I can do. It’s a big deal but I have to put that aside. I have earned my place."

Charlotte has been paired in a 7.58am tee-off group on Friday's opening day with Meena Lee of South Korea and the colourful American Christina Kim – both of whose career earnings in the States approach $5m.

Among the big names who floundered in Monday's wind and rain and failed to claim one of the final 12 places in the 144-strong field was world number three Madelene Sagstrom from Sweden and Cheyenne Woods, niece of Tiger.

What remains is a truly elite list of players which includes the holder Mo Martin and past champions Stacy Lewis, Jiyai Shin and Yani Tseng. America is represented by, among others, Lexi Thompson, Paula Creamer, Jessica Korda and reigning US Open champion Michelle Wie.

Two of the best young talents in ladies’ golf, Charley Hull and world number two Lydia Ko, are also in Scotland as is British legend Laura Davies.