Irish fall by the wayside in British Amateur Championships

THE Irish challenge in the British Boys’ Open Amateur Championship over the sundrenched Royal Liverpool links at Hoylake petered out disappointingly yesterday, as the last three survivors from the country fell by the wayside in the fourth round.

Limerick teenager Cian McNamara was way below his best in going down three and two to Grant Slater, a joint winner of the Caris Trophy last month, while Dubliner David Rawluk and Nicholas Grant from Knock were beaten by Germany-based Ben Parker and 14-year-old Essex boy Oliver Fisher, respectively.

McNamara, who had been impressive on his way into the last 32, found himself three down early on against Slater and, playing with a handicap of a niggling back, was never able to get back into contention.