Irish trio stay in Spanish Open hunt

PAUL DUNNE and Alan Dunbar held their nerve in Barcelona yesterday to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Spanish Men’s Open Amateur Championship with a stroke to spare.

Dunne posted a 76 to add to his opening 75 and Dunbar added a 77 to his 74 on a day when scores generally were higher than on the opening day.

Dermot McElroy, the Irish Boys’ champion from Ballymena made it by the skin of his teeth, compiling a second successive 76. But there was bitter disappointment for Portstewart’s Paul Cutler, while Luke Lennox, Chris Selfridge and Richard O’Donovan also missed out.

Meanwhile, Irish teenage sensation Leona Maguire stormed up the leaderboard in the second qualifying round of the Spanish Ladies’ Open Amateur Championship to occupy third spot in the matchplay draw.

The Slieve Russell girl, who last month walked away with the Portuguese Open title, posted a level-par 72 yesterday for a 36-hole total of 146. Twin sister Lisa also made it into the knock-out phase.

Royal County Down’s Danielle McVeigh produced stunning golf to post a 71 yesterday but unfortunately is now paired with Lisa Maguire in this morning’s first match-play round. Leona faces Spaniard Mandy Goyos.

Cork’s Gillian O’Leary crashed out of the championship after rounds of 80 and 79.

Because of the displays of the Maguires and McVeigh Ireland finished third in the Nations Cup, behind France and Germany.