Ireland's Noel Fox and Michael Hoey made steady starts in the first qualifying round for the British Amateur Championship at Prestwick and Kilmarnock Barassie yesterday.

Both shot rounds of 70 - Fox at Prestwick and Hoey at Kilmarnock - to trail leaders Nick Dougherty, Simon Mackenzie, Craig Watson and Stuart Wilson by four shots with the final qualifying round today. Dougherty carded a faultless five-under-par 66 over the Ayrshire links as he set about securing one of the 64 places on offer for tomorrow's match-play stage as quickly as possible.

The other Irish players in the chase are all in contention. Irish champion Graeme McDowell (Rathmore) shot 71 at Kilmarnock while Jody Fanagan (Milltown) and Gareth Maybin (Ballyclare) both carded 73s at Prestwick. Jim Rice (Limerick) and Colm Moriarty (Athlone) finished on 73 at Kilmarnock and only Scrabo's Andrew McCormick is off the pace after a 75 at Prestwick.