This morning's line-up for the third round of the Golfsure sponsored Irish Amateur Close Championship at Westport is scarce of senior international names as yesterday's action turned into a day of shocks.
None bigger than defending champion and recent winner of the British Amateur title Brian McElhinney, who was sent packing in the first round by outsider Ger Hall, the Edenderry scratch player carving out a surprise 2 and 1 win. So thrilled with his victory, Hall asked to keep the match card, saying it wasn't every day he beat a British champion.
The winner had scant respect for holder McElhinney and never allowed the North West clubman to get his nose in front after going two up after six. However, the holder was partly responsible for the shock result as his short game deserted him.
It was a famous victory for Hall but his glory trail didn't last. In the afternoon's second round he lost 2 and 1 to Michael Horan (Birr). "I hit a lot of greens in regulation but didn't do the business," said Hall.
McElhinney's eclipse wasn't the only shock of the morning as World Universities champion Darren Crowe was also send home early. The Dunmurry international lost by one hole to Aengus McAllister as the Portmarnock US-based player edged ahead at the 17th green and halved the 18th hole. Unlike Hall, McAllister remained in the contest when he defeated Daniel Coyle by 2 and 1. Last year, McElhinney defeated his North West clubmate Michael McGeady in the final but yesterday McGeady also bit the dust. After carving out a one hole first round win over Royal Dublin teenager Niall Kearney, McGeady lost in the afternoon to Eddie McCormack. McGeady found water at the seventh and eighth holes but but was back on level terms after 11. McCormack hit back with birdies at 12th and 13th and held firm for victory as McGeady missed some short putts.
Undoubtedly, the performance of the day was given by Clandeboye 18-year-old Nicky Grant who needed just 23 holes to see off Dermott Morris and John Turner. Also through is 15-year-old Rory McIlroy who eased along with a 3 and 2 win against Greg Massey in the morning and a 3 and 1 defeat of Robert Cannon in round two.
Leading qualifier, Sean McTernan continued to show the form that brought him the silver medal as leading qualifier. After a 2 and 1 win over clubmate Serryth Heavey in the opening round, the Co Sligo man sidestepped the pitfalls to eased his way into the last 16 with a similar victory over Keith O'Neill (Strandhill).
McTernan now meets Banbridge's Rory Leonard, who beat Woodbrook's Bryan McSweeney in the second round.
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