Four senior internationals, including defending champion Stuart Paul, bit the dust during yesterday's action in the North of Ireland Amateur Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
The Tandragee player was dismissed on the home green in the quarter-finals by 21-year-old Gareth Maybin from Ballyclare, an undergraduate on a golf scholarship at the University of South Alabama and studying communications.
The plus-two handicapper fought a close afternoon struggle with the holder.
He was two up after seven holes but lost a ball at the ninth and then wayward shots from the winner at the 13th left the battle all square as Paul took the hole in par.
On Wednesday, Paul played the 18th hole for the first time in 18 months of matchplay competition and won - it was a different story yesterday. Maybin's drive off the 18th tee split the fairway and then steered a superb eight iron from 170 yards to eight feet. Paul was in rough with his drive and with his second approach was 20 yards short of the flag, 10 yards off the green.
From there the holder putted to seven feet but Maybin, winner of the Arkansas State Tournament on the college circuit in the US, rolled home his eight-footer for birdie and the match.
"That eight iron was my shot of the day," enthused the winner. "I took some time over the putt - that was something that I learned in America. Previously I would maybe have rushed the stroke."
Noel Crawford, from Mourne, ended the hopes of two senior internationals. He first pushed aside Dubliner Mark Campbell by 2 and 1 and then dumped Limerick's Tim Rice by 6 and 4.
The scratch player stormed to a dormie situation after 12 holes but then lost the 13th to birdie. However, Crawford, a greenkeeper at Royal County Down, was conceded Calamity Corner, the short 14th where Rice was in trouble left off the tee.
"I haven't the time to play all the championships but I like it here and I like links golf. This is my eleventh time in the North and the last 16 was my best before now.
This morning he meets Clandeboye's Chris Moriarty, an employee of Open Fairways. Moriarty beat Walker Cup and five-times winner of the North Garth McGimpsey by 5 and 3 and then disposed of international Michael McDermott from Dublin by 2 and 1.
Maybin will meet 22-year-old Mark O'Sullivan from Galway who ended the great run of Malone teenager Colm Montgomery by 4 and 3. Montgomery beat leading qualifier Randal Evans in the third round with a birdie at the 19th.
Third Round
M McDermott (Stackstown) bt G McAuley (Dunmurry) 4 and 2; C Moriarty (Clandeboye) bt G McGimpsey (Bangor) 5 and 3; N Crawford (Mourne) bt M Campbell (Stackstown) 2 and 1; T Rice (Limerick) bt N Cunningham (Belvoir Pk) 3 and 1; S Paul (Tandragee) bt P McDonald (UCD/Woodbrook) 2 and 1; G Maybin (Ballyclare) bt R Kane (Bangor) 9 and 7; M O'Sullivan (Galway) bt R Forsythe (Hilton) at 19th; C Montgomery (Malone) bt R Evans (Moyola Pk) at 19th.
Quarter-Finals
Moriarty bt McDermott 2 and 1; Crawford bt Rice 6 and 4; Maybin bt Paul one hole; O'Sullivan bt Montgomery 4 and 3.
