Elm Park's Declan Quilligan this morning will step on to championship ground among the last 16 for the first time in 12 years when he faces Garth McGimpsey in the Carlsberg North of Ireland Amateur Championship at Royal Portrush.

The 34-year-old hasn't passed the second round in any championship since he knocked Arthur Pierse out of the Irish Close at Royal Dublin in 1986.

The one-handicapper yesterday defeated Ciaran McMonagle and John Finnegan.

"I have got a stiff test in the morning," he said. "I have never played Garth McGimpsey before but I know that I will have to play good golf to beat him."

Quilligan played good, steady golf yesterday. In the morning he avenged last year's defeat by McMonagle and was two-under-par when the match ended on the 17th green. He was level in the afternoon when beating Finnegan by 5 & 4.

McGimpsey, seeking a record sixth North of Ireland title, needed only 28 holes to beat both Noel Crawford and Ricky Whiteford by 5 & 4.

One of the most entertaining matches today no doubt will be the third-round battle between Eamon Brady and Danny Coyle, the American-based students from Royal Dublin and Dundalk.

Brady, who is based at Tennessee State University, found his putting touch to dismiss former professional Enda McMenamin by 3 & 1, while Berkeley-based Coyle swept to a 4 & 2 win over Belfast publican Joe Crangle.

Also surviving to the third round was Bryan Omelia, who had a hard-earned one-hole win over former West of Ireland Champion Colin Glasgow before beating current Ulster youth champion Johnny Foster by 3 & 2.