BOYS' BRITISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney romped into the fourth round over the Aberdeen links yesterday. The 18-year-old plus-one handicapper was five under par in demolishing the American Sean Stevens.
Kearney birdied the first two holes. He lost only one hole - the 248-yard third - before taking command. Three up at the turn, he won three holes on the trot to go six up and closed out the match at the next.
Paul O'Kane also moved smoothly into the fourth round. The 18-year-old defeated the Swiss Marc Dobias 3 and 1 with putting of the highest order. Level after five holes O'Kane birdied the long sixth to regain the advantage and never lost the momentum. He was two under par when the match finished.
Portstewart's Paul Cutler was in majestic second-round form when overwhelming Adam Myers from Northampton 6 and 5. But he never reproduced that form against Braintree's David Thomas in the afternoon. Always under pressure, he went down by 3 and 2.
GIRLS' BRITISH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Stephanie Meadow kept Irish hopes alive at Portstewart yesterday. The 17-year-old Irish champion produced two high-quality rounds to book her place in the last 16. She defeated Spaniard Carmen Perez Narbon Ferraz 3 and 1 and overwhelmed Italian Chiara Brizzolari 4 and 3.
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