Four Irish progress in Amateur championships

Paula Grant © USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Four Irish players advanced to day two of matchplay combat in the Amateur and Women’s Amateur Championships on England’s west coast.

Kilkenny's Mark Power, Holywood's Tom McKibbin and Carton House's Marc Boucher made today's last 32 of the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale as Lisburn's Paula Grant moved into the last 16 in the Women's Amateur at West Lancashire. 

Inspired by Pádraig Harrington’s 2008 Open Championship winning exploits, Power beat Germany's Jannik de Bruyn 2&1 and now faces England's Jack Dyer while McKibbin's two-hole win over German Laurenz Schiergen set up a clash with England's Barclay Brown, who was a 6&4 winner over Hermitage's Rowan Lester.

“At the start of the week we were all watching that video of (Padraig) Harrington hitting that five wood on 17,” admitted Power. “I was standing on the 17th tee two-up and it was a big moment, as I was considering if I should take it on or not. It’s just cool to be playing these type of golf courses that all the greats have played on. It’s a magnificent golf course, the back nine is so tough, pars are great scores out there. 

“I have played Jannik before and I knew how good he was and that it would be a tough game. We both probably didn’t have our best stuff today, but it was a good battle. To know that even when I’m not playing my best, I can win gives me a lot of confidence.”

While Boucher beat England's Enrique Dimayuga 3&2 and now takes on England international Matty Lamb, there was no luck for Malone's Matt McClean or Castle's Robert Moran.

McClean came through a preliminary round but lost by one hole to Mason Essam in the afternoon as Moran fell by 4&3 to the highly-fancied Walker Cup player Thomas Plum, who race six up after nine and hung on. 

Curtis Cup star Grant beat England's Martha Lewis 3&2 and Finland's Kiira Riihijärvi 2&1 to earn a third-round clash with England's Caitlin Whitehead.

Beth Coulter fell in the first round while veteran Laura Webb lost to 2&1 in the afternoon to Swiss star Lily Huerlimann.

Clandeboye's Jessica Ross fell 5&4 to the defending champion Emily Toy, who is aiming to become the first player since Sweden's Louise Stahle in 2005 to retain the title.