Tim Rice from Limerick will be the Irish standard-bearer in the third round of the British Amateur Golf Championship at Royal Porthcawl this morning.

Rice, who led the qualifiers into the knockout phase at Hoylake two years ago, was the only Irish player who survived the first day of matchplay as both Cork's Padraig Dooley and Michael McGeady from the City of Derry club were eliminated.

But Rice's victory was a notable one as he sent 1997 champion Craig Watson plunging to a 3 and 2 defeat in a game in which the Irishman took charge after the turn. It was neck and neck in the early stages but a birdie at the par five, 12th - the hole known as "Sahara", took Rice into the lead and he won the 13th to extend his advantage and closed out the game two holes later.

"This year I have been playing too many erratic, loose shots and have had problems with my swing but it seems to be sorted out now and I can get around without too many difficulties," said Rice, a member of the Irish side which got to the final of the European Team Championships last July.

Dooley put up a great fight before going down at the 19th to Kieran Staunton. It was the start that did the damage as Dooley was three down with just five holes played.

Birdies at the seventh and eighth hole reduced the deficit to one and he drew level after pitching in at the 10th but promptly lost the 12th & 13th to fall behind again.

Determined to make a fight of it, Dooley won the 17th - the longest hole - and the next to tie things up before going down at the first extra hole after over-hitting the green with his approach shot.

Michael McGeady took on Walker Cup player Jamie Elson and battled bravely before slipping to defeat on the home green.

They were level with two holes to play but Elson knocked in a 15 footer to win the 17th and McGeady three putted the last to ruin any chance of taking the game into sudden death.

There were no major upsets on the first day of matchplay although Walker Cup player Marc Warren went down 4 and 3 to England international Zane Scotland.

Just one former winner - Gary Wolstenholme - is still in contention after he saw off the challenge of Craig Shave by 5 and 4.

FIRST ROUND RESULT: K McAlpine (Alyth) beat v Karhu (Fin) 2&1.

SECOND ROUND RESULT: M Plate (USA) bt R Finch (Hull) l hole; M Ali (Ealing) beat M Korhonen (Finland) 3&1; A Buckle (Aust) bt D Henley (Stoneham) 5&4; G Wright (West Linton) bt K Freeman (Stoke Park) 1 hole; G Gordon (Newmachar) bt J Ferguson (Cleobury Mortimer) 4&3; C Schunck (Ger) bt F Keenan (Royal Mid-Surrey) l hole; A Smith (Pyle & Kenfig) bt M Walkington (NZ) 5&3; T Karjalainen (Fin) bt F Kelley (Ganton) 3&2; N Edwards (Whitechurch) bt C Elliot (Ratho Park) on 19th; D Price (Vale of Glamorgan) bt M Peet (Pyle & Kenfig) 2 holes; E Stenman (Finland) bt P Spargo (Aust) 3&2; N MacRae (Cawder) bt D Berry (West Bradford) 3&2; G Bourdy (Fra) bt D Skinns (Lincoln) 3&1; A Kruger (SA) bt C Riembold (Ger) l hole; L Corfield (Burnham & Berrow) bt P Bradshaw (Gainsborough) at 20th; M Sell (Wrag Barn) bt J Moul (Stoke by Nayland) l hole; T Sundstrom (Fin) bt R Funk (USA) 2&1; R Burger (South Africa) bt J Mommo (Finland) l hole; N Mitchell (Murcar) bt E Molinari (Ita) 3&2; S Wilson (Forfar) bt J Heath (Coombe Wood) 2&1; R Walker (Frodsham) bt B Hume (Haggs Castle) 1 hole; J Elson (Kenilworth) bt M McGeady (City of Derry) 2 holes; T Rice (Limerick) bt C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 3&2; G Clark (Doncaster) bt P Martin (Spa) 2 holes; K Staunton (Woodcote Park) bt P Dooley (Cork) on 19th; G Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs) bt C Shave (Cosby) 5&4; C Schwartzel (SA) bt S Mason (Teignmouth) 4&2; Z Scotland (Walton Heath) bt M Warren (East Kilbride) 4&3; J Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan) bt S Lewton (Woburn) 3&1; J Farnsworth (Coxmoor) bt D Wardrop (Didsbury) 2&1; R Brookman (Creigiau) bt I Van Weerelt (Netherlands) 2&1; A Larrazabal (Spa) bt K McAlpine (Alyth) 5&3;