Ciaran McMonagle maintained fine form when he reached the quarter-finals of the South African Open Matchplay Championship at East London yesterday. This followed his victory in the South African Open Strokeplay Championship on Wednesday.
In bright, warm sunshine, McMonagle won his two matches with ease, beating local players Van Den Heever by 2 and 1 in the morning and Botha by 3 and 2 in the afternoon. He now meets defending champion Richard Stern eight this morning.
Noel Fox (Portmarnock) and Gary Cullen (Beaverstown) both lost in the first round.
Andrew McCormick, who failed to qualify, is still involved in the Plate, following a 6 and 5 win yesterday.
Meanwhile, Shandon Park's Michael Hoey shares the lead with Matthew Connor on 71 after the opening round of the 36-hole Emirates Amateur Open Championship in Dubai yesterday. Mark Campbell (UCD and Stackstown) is fourth on 74.
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