Just four Irish qualify in British Boys
Jack Doherty during the final day of the Boys (Under 18) Interprovincial Matches. Picture by Pat Cashman
Irish Boys champion Mark Power failed to qualify as just four of Ireland's 15 challengers made it to the matchplay stages in the 91st Boys Amateur Championship at Nairn and Nairn Dunbar.
Power added a one over 73 at Nairn to a 75 at Nairn Dunbar to finish two shots outside the cut mark on four-over par with East of Ireland champion Reece Black also missing out on three over.
Scotland’s Darren Howie, 17, carded a level par 72 at Nairn to lead the qualifiers on eight-under-par 136, one shot clear of Frenchman Aymeric Laussot and England's Alex Fitzpatrick, the younger brother of three-time European Tour winner Matt.
The cut fell on two-over-par with 74 players progressing to the match play stage.
A preliminary round will be held early on Thursday morning with Carton House's Jack Doherty facing England's George Holland and Connemara's Luke O'Neill taking on Elliot Anger of France.
Athenry's David Kitt was the best of the Irish, qualifying tied 14th on two-under after a 73 a Nairn with clubmate Alan Hill carding a 69 at the same venue to share 25th on one-under.
Hill faces Benjamin Jones in the round of 64 with Kitt drawn against Austria's Claus Jäger.