GOLF/BRITISH WOMEN'S AMATEUR:ONCE AGAIN Irish hopes of success in the Ladies' British Amateur Open Championship have been dashed as the last challenger fell at the third round hurdle at Royal Portrush yesterday morning.

Local Stephanie Meadow, 19, was defeated 4 and 3 by South African Kim Williams, who later was dismissed by teenage Welsh international Amy Bouden.

Alabama-based university student Meadow never reproduced the form she showed on Thursday afternoon when she defeated leading qualifier Camilla Hedberg of Spain at the 19th with a scintillating round in which she was four under par.

A missed five-footer for a win at the sixth hole was, in effect, a turning point in the Williams-Meadow match. The 25-year-old from Pretoria was two up after three holes, winning the second in birdie and the third in par.

However, Meadow hit back to take the fourth hole in regulation but she missed birdie from five feet on the sixth green to level the argument.

Williams went two up at the eighth and a birdie at the ninth put her three holes ahead and, although she cut the deficit to two at 10, Meadow could never get back in the game.

“I’m certainly disappointed as I didn’t play anywhere near to my capabilities. I got a few unlucky breaks but I will learn from it,” admitted Meadow,

Defending champion Kelly Tidy, from Royal Birkdale, sailed through to the last four with two big wins yesterday.