A tired Eamon Brady limped out of the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush yesterday evening after losing to outsider Ian Froggatt from Malone by a margin of 3 and 1 in the second round of matchplay. Froggatt, an Allied Irish Banks official in east Belfast, first squashed the hopes of Limerick lad Tim Rice by an unexpected 5 and 4 and then tackled international Brady with the same confidence.
Not even a Brady birdie at the third hole unruffled the six-footer, who plays off scratch. "Certainly after his international action in Italy Eamon became a little tired towards the end of out match but I'm very happy to be through to the third round," said Froggatt.
Froggatt now tackles Michael McGeady, the junior international from City of Derry, who wiped out the hopes of fellow Prehen player John Harding and then lowered the colours of South African-born Richard Clark.
Defending champion Paddy Gribben, back in action after his severe hand injury, safely side-stepped the usual first-day pitfalls with wins over Scottish player George Reynolds and Bangor's Michael Jones.
Gribben stormed off against Reynolds being four up after six holes on his way to a two-holes victory to gain revenge his defeat at the hands of the Scot two years ago in the championship. Still lurking in the shadows is Garth McGimpsey, who is seeking his sixth win in the championship. McGimpsey struggled a little in the horrible morning conditions before beating David Adams by 2 and 1, but then turned on the power play in the afternoon to beat Gordon Forbes by 6 and 5.
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