GOLF:PAUL CUTLER'S dream of becoming the first Irishman since Brian McElhinney six years ago to win the Amateur Championship was shattered at Hillside on the Lancashire coast yesterday when he bowed out in the third round.

The 22-year-old Walker Cup hopeful from Portstewart was always fighting an uphill battle against Austrian Philipp Fendt, going down 2 and 1.

Whereas on Wednesday the 2010 Lytham Trophy winner had six birdies and produced a magical putting spell he was found wanting on the greens yesterday. From tee and fairway Cutler was almost flawless but that was not sufficient for him to keep up with his opponent. Cutler found himself three down after eight holes but brought it back to two after the 14th, but that was the end of the revival as he failed to get any closer.

“It was just not going to be my day today. I should have kept some of the birdies for today,” he said.

Meanwhile Tom Lewis continued his bid to join a select band of players to win the amateur title after taking the boys’ crown as he swept into the quarter-finals with a 6 and 4 trouncing of fellow Englishman Andrew Sullivan.

ST OMER OPEN:SOUTH Africa's George Coetzee birdied the last three holes to complete an opening round of 66 and lead the Saint Omer Open. The 24-year-old, who finished strongly to tie for 11th at last week's BMW Italian Open, continued his good form and finished the day two shots clear of the field in northern France. Starting from the 10th, Coetzee dropped a shot on the 13th but immediately got back to level par, and further birdies on the 18th and third took him two under.

Two par fives in his last three holes gave him the opportunity for a grandstand finish and he took full advantage to pull clear of Scandinavians Eirik Tage Johansson and Thomas Norret, home player Benoit Teilleria, Andrea Perrino of Italy and Australian Matthew Zions – on three under.