Golf: Irish assistants' championship at Royal County Down

Despite a couple of surprise results in the first two rounds the holder Neil Manchip remains as favourite to retain the title in this bi-annual championship.

Manchip, a former assistant at Royal County Down, was three-under-par in his wins over Ciaran Smyth and Brian Kelleher.

Kelleher, from Ballybunion, was the only player who had to go into extra time before winning a match as Kevin Grealy took him to the 19th where Kelleher made birdie four to survive the first hurdle.

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The main surprises of the first two rounds were the defeat of No 2 seed

Nigel Howley by David McQuillan and Simon Thonton's win over John Langan.

First Round - N Manchip (Royal Dublin) bt C Smyth (Dundalk) 2&1; B Kelleher

(Ballybunion) bt K Grealy Royal Tara) at 19th; G Robinson (Wexford) bt J

Greenaway (Portadown) 7&6; R Symes (Royal Belfast) bt A Manson (Lisburn)

3&2; S Thornton (Royal Co Down) bt C Lyttle (Galgorm Castle) 2&1; J Langan

(Milltown) bt A Thomas one up; D McQuillan (Co Sligo) bt N Howley (Black

Bush) 3&2; T Mullaly (Royal Portrush) bt G McShea (Rossmore) 8&7.

Second Round - Manchip bt Kelleher 5&4; Symes bt Robinson one up; Thornton

bt Langan 3&1; McQuillan bt Mullaly 2 holes.