Stuart Grehan and Jack Hume impress as Ireland progress

Three-under par rounds of 68 over the challenging Chantilly course by Walker Cup star Jack Hume and Stuart Grehan helped Ireland cruise into the quarter-finals of the European Amateur Team Championship.

They improved by 10 strokes on Tuesday and moved up four places — from the brink of elimination to comfortable qualification — and will face Italy today for a spot in the last four.

Defending champions Scotland also made it into the quarter-finals. They meet Spain today, but England flopped, managing only 10th spot in the qualifying phase.