McIlroy and Pitcher set to dual in Close

With the first and second round action completed on the third day of the Golfsure Irish Amateur Close Championship, all eyes will now focus on match four at the The European Club tomorrow when defending champion Rory McIlroy takes on leading qualifier Andrew Pitcher.

In fact both players equalled the qualifying mark with a two round aggregate of 150 over the weekend. However, Pitcher was awarded the silver medal by virtue of his better second round score of 75 to match his first round score. McIlroy shot 70 followed by an 80 on a day when the game's elite amateurs where blown off course at the treacherous Brittas Bay links.

The pair both won their first round matches by 2 and 1 margins and once again won by the same 5 and 4 margin in the afternoon's second round.

With striking similarity the pair last met at the same stage of last year's North of Ireland championship in Portrush where Pitcher won 4 and 3.

SECOND ROUND - Monday, 12th June 2006

First Quarter
Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye) bt Gerard Lawlor (Citywest) 4/3; Damien Coyne (Tuam) bt Niall Turner (Muskerry) 1 hole; Connor Doran (Banbridge) bt Alex McCloy (Ballymena) 5/4; Cian McNamara (Limerick) bt Niall Gorey (Killeen) 2/1.

Second Quarter
Robert Cannon (L'town & B'town) bt Kevin Stack (Dungarvan/UCC) 3/2; Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) bt Cian Daly (Castletroy) 1 hole; Andrew Pitcher (The Island) bt Patrick Sheehy (Limerick) 5/4; Rory McIlroy (Holywood) bt Stephen Grant (Birr) 5/4.

Third Quarter
Nicky Grant (Knock) bt Ronan O'Connor (The Island) 1 hole; Simon Ward (Co. Louth) bt Declan McInerney (Lahinch) 1 hole; David Finn (Mallow) bt Mark King (Athenry) 1 hole; Michael Sinclair (Knock) bt John Toner (Woodbrook) 3/1.

Fourth Quarter
Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park) bt Rory Leonard (Banbridge) 4/3; Desmond Morgan (Mullingar) bt Alan Glynn (Porter's Park) 5/3; Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt Neil O Briain (Royal Dublin) 1 hole; Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) bt David Rawluk (The Island) 3/2.

FIRST ROUND - Monday, 12th June 2006

First Quarter
Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye) bt Stephen Dwyer (Newlands) 4/3; Gerard Lawlor (Citywest) bt Daniel Lewis (Woodbrook) 2 holes; Damien Coyne (Tuam) bt Ryan Boal (Scrabo) 2/1; Niall Turner (Muskerry) bt Jason Somers (L'town & B 'town) 19th; Connor Doran (Banbridge) bt Harry Diamond (Holywood) 3/2; Alex McCloy (Ballymena) bt J P Hughes (Douglas) 5/4; Niall Gorey (Killeen) bt Keith O'Neill (Strandhill) 4/2; Cian McNamara (Limerick) bt John Turner (Royal Portrush) 3/2.

Second Quarter
Robert Cannon (L'town & B'town) bt Brendan McCarroll (Ballyliffin) 2 holes; Kevin Stack (Dungarvan/UCC) bt Donal O'Brien (L'town & B'town) 3/1; Cian Daly (Castletroy) bt Declan Moran (The Island) 1 hole; Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) bt Robert McCarthy (The Island) 2/1; Andrew Pitcher (The Island) bt Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry) 2/1; Patrick Sheehy (Limerick) bt Mark Campbell (Stackstown) 4/3; Stephen Grant (Birr) bt Alastair McKinley (Shandon Park) 1 hole; Rory McIlroy (Holywood) bt Adrian Morrow (Portmarnock) 2/1.

Third Quarter
Nicky Grant (Knock) bt Seamus Power (West Waterford) 3/2; Ronan O'Connor (The Island) bt Ciaran McAleavey (Banbridge) 2 holes; Declan McInerney (Lahinch) bt Stephen Loftus (Ennis) 3/2; Simon Ward (Co. Louth) bt Kingsley Lewis (Skerries) 7/6; David Finn (Mallow) bt Aengus McAllister (Portmarnock) 5/4; Mark King (Athenry) bt Brian O'Connor (Hermitage) 2 holes; Michael Sinclair (Knock) bt Eddie McCormack (Galway) 4/3; John Toner (Woodbrook) bt Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) 19th.

Fourth Quarter
Rory Leonard (Banbridge) bt Greg Bowden (Hermitage) 3/2; Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park) bt Cian Curley (Newlands) 2 holes; Alan Glynn (Porter's Park) bt Peter Sheehan (Ballybunion) 2/1; Desmond Morgan (Mullingar) bt Aaron O'Callaghan (Douglas) 1 hole; Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) 2/1; Neil O Briain (Royal Dublin) bt Eoin O'Sullivan (The Island) 1 hole; Fergal Rafferty (Dungannon) bt Wayne McCully (Donaghadee) 6/4; David Rawluk (The Island) bt Pat Murray (Limerick) 20th.