Strong field in last 32 of Amateur

The strength of amateur golf around the world was proved during the first and second round matches in the Amateur Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club when players from nine nations won through to the final 32 places against strong home opposition.

Leading qualifiers Tim Rice of Limerick and Michael Thannhauser of Germany, who were three shots clear of the field after 36-hole qualifying, were both early casualties when the match-play stages began.

Amateur champion from 1997, Craig Watson, one of the few players who had to play twice, was taken to the 20th hole in the first round by Dean Lambert of South Africa, before knocking out Thannhauser.

Scots champion Craig Heap was beaten by compatriot Paul McKechnie and England’s world junior champion Nick Dougherty lost to by Benjamin Schlichting of Germany.

Players from the UK face opposition from the USA, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Finland, South Africa, Australia and the Netherlands as 32 of the world’s finest amateurs battle for the title over the famous Royal Liverpool course where the Amateur Champion was inaugurated in 1885.

For further information and up to date reports from Liverpool, click on The R&A Website
, but don’t forget to come back will you