Durcan dumped out after epic tussle with Stal

MICHAEL DURCAN, the big hope of Ireland, bowed out of the Boys Amateur Championship at Royal St Georges, Sandwich yesterday after a tense battle with crack French teenager Gary Stal.

Durcan was never able to get his nose in front but twice recovered from two down to square. The end came at the 17th when Stal knocked in an eight-footer after the Irish boy had chipped stone dead from the rough.

It was good match-play stuff from Stal and he hardly put a foot wrong.

“I hit the ball well but he gave away very little and although I came back a couple of times it was very difficult — almost impossible to go ahead,” said Durcan from Sligo. Earlier Malone’s Garth McGee was beaten 2&1 by James Webber — and admitted afterwards he had not played well. “Quite frankly I did not really turn up — I had my chances but did not take them.”

There were a couple of surprises yesterday, notably the defeats of Open Championship silver medallist Matteo Manassero and defending boys champion Pedro Figueirido.

Meanwhile, at West Lancashire, Irish title-holder Emma O’Driscoll of Ballybunnion was eliminated from the Girls British Open championship.

She went down on the home green to England’s Jess Wilcox in round two having beaten Belgium’s Man de Roey 2&1 in the opening round.