BRITISH AMATEUR: Tim Rice of Limerick, Ireland's last remaining hope in the British Amateur Open in Royal Porthcawl, finally fell under a dual Walker Cup challenge yesterday when he was beaten in the fourth round by Jamie Elson, the only Walker Cup player now left in the championship.
International Rice had established a one-hole lead after six, but Elson then won five in a row to move into a commanding advantage and held on for a comfortable, 3 and 2 victory.
Earlier yesterday, Rice had taken an impressive scalp by beating another Walker Cup squad member, Gaeme Clark. The Limerick man was four up with seven holes to play against Clark, but the Doncaster player came back strongly, winning the 13th and 15th with birdies and also taking the 17th. In a shaky finish, Rice holed a tricky six-footer for victory by one hole.
Elson knows that he will be wearing the favourite's tag as play gets under way in the quarter-finals today.
Third round: M Ali (Ealing) bt M Plate (USA) 3 and 1, A Buckle (Aus) bt G Wright (West Linton) at 19th, G Gordon (Newmachar) bt C Schunck (Ger) 3 and 1, T Karjalainen (Fin) bt A Smith (Pyle and Kenfig) 1 hole, D Price (Vale of Glamorgan) bt N Edwards (Whitchurch) 3 and 2, N MacRae (Cawder) bt E Stenman (Finland) 5 and 4, G Bourdy (France) bt A Kruger (Rsa) 3 and 2, M Sell (Wrag Barn) bt L Corfield (Burnham and Berrow) 4 and 3, T Sundstrom (Fin) bt R Burger (Rsa) 4 and 3, S Wilson (Forfar) bt N Mitchell (Murcar) 2 and 1, J Elson (Kenilworth) bt R Walker (Frodsham) 2 and 1, T Rice (Limerick) bt G Clark (Doncaster) 1 hole, G Wolstenholme (Kilworth Springs) bt K Staunton (Woodcote Park) 3 and 2, Z Scotland (Walton Heath) bt C Schwartzel (Rsa) 2 and 1, J Doherty (Vale of Glamorgan) bt J Farnsworth (Coxmoor) 3 and 2, A Larrazabal (Spa) bt R Brookman (Creigiau) 4 and 2. Fourth round: Buckle bt Ali 4 and 3, Gordon bt Karjalainen 3 and 1, Price bt MacRae 3 and 2, Sell bt Bourdy 3 and 2, Sundstrom bt Wilson 4 and 3, Elson bt Rice 3 and 2, Scotland bt Wolstenholme 2 and 1, Larrazabal bt Brookman 4 and 3.
