Stuart Paul at last climbed to the top of the qualifying table in the Carlsberg North of Ireland Amateur Championship at Portrush to win the silver medal.

The Tandragee plus two-handicapper carded a superb 67 over the par-72 Dunluce Course yesterday for an eight-under total of 134 having posted a 67 at the Valley Course on Monday. It is the first time the Ulster senior player managed to clinch top spot after 10 years of trying.

In yesterday's rain he pencilled in an eagle and four birdies with just one dropped shot. A two at the short third hole set the 30-year-old on course but that advantage was wiped away when he missed the next green and failed to get up and down. However, a birdie four at the ninth left him out in one under and he then strode home in 32 shots (four under par).

His eagle landed at the par five 10th where he hit the green with a two iron and five iron and he rolled home a 12-foot putt. He got down from the same distance at the 13th and 15th for birdie threes.

Just one stroke behind one player Justin Kehoe. The 21-year-old made three birdies and just failed to catch the Tandragee man when he bogeyed the last hole.

Chris Moriarty slotted into third place with a round of 70 and biting at his heels a further stroke back on 138 was Rory Leonard from Banbridge.

Leonard had an unusual outward run which included only three pars. Three birdies and three bogeys were also spread over his opening nine holes.

The trip home was much steadier as Leonard, who opened with a 68 at the Valley, made birdie four at the 19th and birdie three at the 15th, along with seven pars. Back in the tournament after five years' absence is former senior international David Mulholland, who posted a 71 for 143.

Last night 61 of the 300 starters made it through to the matchplay stages this morning and they are joined in the shoot-out stakes by internationals Graeme McDowell, the new Walker Cup player, Tim Rice and Michael McDermott, who were excused from qualifying because of last weekend's European team championship.