Irish Close: Rory McNamara's fine run at the Irish Amateur Close Championship came to an end at the quarter-final stage when Scrabo's Andrew McCormick defeated the Headfort teenager at Belvoir Park Golf Club in Belfast this afternoon.
This time yesterday McNamara got the better of defending champion and pre-tournament favourite, Shane Lowry, in the second round, winning by a 2 and 1 margin. From there the Meath teenager took the scalp of last week's East of Ireland champion Eoin Arthurs in this morning's third round, despite being pushed all the way to the 19th.
However, in this afternoon's quarter-final the vast experience of McCormick came through as he denied his opponent a place in the last four with a comprehensive 4 and 3 win.
McCormick, who has represented Ireland and been a perennial representative on the Ulster panel over the years, will take on Paul O'Hanlon from the Curragh in tomorrow's semi-final. O'Hanlon booked his place with a 4 and 2 win over Royal Dublin's Niall Kearney.
The other semi-final will see Cian Curley from Newlands take on the Castle's Dara Lernihan. Curley defeated Knock's Michael Sinclair 5 and 4, while Lernihan defeated David Rawluk from the Island at the 19th.
Irish Amateur Close Details
Semi-final draw
(Wednesday, June 11th)
8.30am Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) v Andrew McCormick (Scrabo)
8.45am Cian Curley (Newlands) v Dara Lernihan (Castle)
Quarter-finals
(Tuesday, June 10th)
Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) 4/2
Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) bt Rory McNamara (Headfort) 4/3
Cian Curley (Newlands) bt Michael Sinclair (Knock) 5/4
Dara Lernihan (Castle) bt David Rawluk (Island) 19th
Third round
(Tuesday, June 10th)
Niall Kearney (Royal Dublin) bt Stephen Crowe (Dunmurry) 3/2
Paul O'Hanlon (Curragh) bt Connor Doran (Banbridge) 1 hole
Andrew McCormick (Scrabo) bt Seamus Power (West Waterford) 3/2
Rory McNamara (Headfort) bt Eoin Arthurs (Forrest Little) 19th
Michael Sinclair (Knock) bt Ciaran O'Connor (Athlone) 5/4
Cian Curley (Newlands) bt Gavin Reid (Spa) 1 hole
Dara Lernihan (Castle) bt Garth McGee (Malone) 2/1
David Rawluk (Island) bt Richard McDowell (Royal Belfast) 2/1
