Gary Hurley faces a huge hurdle in his bid for a first major title when he takes on reigning European Amateur champion Ashley Chesters in this afternoon's semi-finals in the Spanish Amateur Open Championship at Sherry Golf in Jerez.

The 22-year old  NUI Maynooth and West Waterford star beat Austria's Markus Maukner 3 and 2 in this morning's quarter-finals and has yet to be taken beyond the 16th in any of his three matches so far.

Results

Chester's progress to the semi-finals meant bad news for Ireland, however, as he beat Naas' Jack Hume 2 and 1.

Winner of the European Individual Amateur in 2013 and 2014, Chesters is ranked 24th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking while Hurley is 65th.

In the other semi-final, Spain's Ivan Cantero will take on Jeroen Krietemeijer of the Netherlands.

In the Spanish International Ladies Amateur Open at Real Club Pineda de Seville, Skerrie's Maria Dunne fell by 7 and 5 to Sweden's Linnea Strom, the world No 3. Results

Dunne bogeyed the first two holes to go two down to Strom, who began birdie par. And while the Irish star birdied the third, it was only good enough for a half.

Wins in par at the fifth, sixth and seventh and another birdie at the eighth put Strom six up and while she double bogeyed the 10th to lose that hole, she completed an impressive victory with winning birdies at the 11th, 12th and 13th.