Irish Amateur Close: It was a day of upsets at the matchplay stages of the Irish Amateur Close Championship at Belvoir Park today. The biggest casualties were tournament favourite Shane Lowry and Walker Cup star Jonathan Caldwell.

Before the tournament Lowry was widely tipped as the man they all had to beat and looked a strong candidate to go all the way. However, the Esker Hills man lost 2 and 1 to Rory McNamara from Headfort in today's second round.

Caldwell had a close encounter before he eventually lost by one hole against Athlone's Ciaran O'Connor.

There was another big name casualty with Simon Ward losing 2 and 1 to Gavin Reid from Spa Golf Club in the morning's first round.  The Co Louth golfer was a member of the Ireland team alongside Lowry and Caldwell when they won the European Team Championship at Western Gailes last year.

Last week's East of Ireland champion Eoin Arthurs advanced to tomorrow's third round after the Forrest Little golfer defeated Thomas O'Flynn from Fota Island 4 and 2.

Malone's Garth McGee, who had a hole in one on the fourth hole in yesterday's qualifying, was one of six boys (under-18) to qualify for the matchplay. However, he is the only survivor into the third round after defeating Paul O'Kane from Moyola Park 4 and 3.
 
Third Round Draw
(Tuesday, June 10th)

8:30am Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) V Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry)
8:40 Connor Doran (Banbridge) V Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh)
8:50 Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) V Seamus Power (West Waterford)
9:00 Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little) V Rory McNamara (Headfort)
9:10 Ciaran O'Connor (Athlone) V Michael Sinclair (Knock)
9:20 Cian Curley (Newlands) V Gavin Reid (Spa)
9:30 Dara Lernihan (Castle) V Garth McGee (Malone)
9:40 David Rawluk (Island) V Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast)

Second Round
(Monday, June 9th)

Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt James Patterson (Knock) 2/1
Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry) bt Matthew Welsh (Knock) 3/2
Connor Doran (Banbridge) bt Robert Cannon (L'town & B'town) 19th
Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt Warren Kelly (Killeen) 1 hole
Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) bt Niall Gorey (Lee Valley) 2/1
Seamus Power (West Waterford) bt Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) 3/2
Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little) bt Thomas O'Flynn (Fota Island) 4/2
Rory McNamara (Headfort) bt Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) 2/1
Ciaran O'Connor (Athlone) bt Gerard Lawlor (Citywest) 5/3
Michael Sinclair (Knock) bt Andrew Hogan (Newlands) 1 hole
Cian Curley (Newlands) bt Michael Durcan (Co. Sligo) 7/6
Gavin Reid (Spa) bt Gary McDermott (Co. Sligo) 3/1
Dara Lernihan (Castle) bt Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park) 5/4
Garth McGee (Malone) bt Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park) 4/3
David Rawluk (Island) bt Des Morgan (Mullingar) 19th
Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast) bt Paul Cutler (Portstewart) 19th

First Round
(Monday, June 9th)

Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt David Carvill (Belvoir Park) 4/3
James Patterson (Knock) bt Stephen Brady (Co. Sligo) 3/2
Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry) bt Richard Bridges (Stackstown) 3/2
Matthew Welsh (Knock) bt Alex McCloy (Ballymena) 1 hole
Connor Doran (Banbridge) bt Chris Selfridge (Moyola Park) 3/2
Robert Cannon (L'town & B'town) bt Patrick Sheehy (Lahinch) 2 holes
Warren Kelly (Killeen) bt Luke Lennox (Moyola Park) 1 hole
Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt Garth Boyd (Donaghadee) 3/2
Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) bt Cathal O'Malley (Westport) 19th
Niall Gorey (Lee Valley) bt Gerard Dunne (Seapoint) 2/1
Seamus Power (West Waterford) bt James Fox (Portmarnock) 2/1
Darren Crowe (Dunmurry) bt Chris Carvill (Belvoir Park) 5/4
Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little) bt Gary O'Flaherty (Cork) 3/1
Thomas O'Flynn (Fota Island) bt Alistair McKinley (Shandon Park) 19th
Rory McNamara (Headfort) bt Philip Purdy (Shandon Park) 1 hole
Shane Lowry (Esker Hills) bt Ruaidhri McGee (Rosapenna) 4/2
Ciaran O'Connor (Athlone) bt Jonathan Caldwell (Clandeboye) 1 hole
Gerard Lawlor (City West) bt Keith Crowley (Lee Valley) 4/2
Michael Sinclair (Knock) bt Johnny Mallon (Dungannon) 1 hole
Andrew Hogan (Newlands) bt Paul Buckley (Kanturk) 1 hole
Cian Curley (Newlands) bt Alan Dunbar (Rathmore) 1 hole
Michael Durcan (Co. Sligo) bt Clancy Bowe (Tramore) 5/4
Gary McDermott (Co. Sligo) bt Jim Carvill (Warrenpoint) 4/2
Gavin Reid (Spa) bt Simon Ward (Co. Louth) 2/1
Dara Lernihan (Castle) bt Barry Fennelly (Royal Dublin) 2/1
Harry Diamond (Belvoir Park) bt Joe Crangle (Fortwilliam) 3/2
Garth McGee (Malone) bt Ross Oliver (Carrickfergus) 4/3
Paul O'Kane (Moyola Park) bt Pat Murray (Limerick) 3/1
Des Morgan (Mullingar) bt Nicky Grant (Knock) 1 hole
David Rawluk (Island) bt Andrew Morris (Belvoir Park) 5/3
Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast) bt Kelan McDonagh (Athlone) 2/1
Paul Cutler (Portstewart) bt Dale Baker (Downpatrick) 6/5