Amateur Championship update

Four Britons have reached the quarter-final stage of the 117th Amateur Championship at Royal Troon

Jack McDonald

Four Great Britain and Ireland players are in with a chance of winning the 117th Amateur Championship as the tournament enters the quarter-final stage at Royal Troon.

Scotland's Jack McDonald leads the home challenge, and is joined in the final eight by compatriot Paul Ferrier, 18-year-old Englishman Toby Tree and Irishman Alan Dunbar.

McDonald came through 42 holes on Thursday, needing 24 holes in the morning's third round to see off American Will McCurdy before beating Ireland's Rory McNamara by one hole in round four.

McDonald, who is studying mathematics at Stirling University, will take on Tree in the final eight. The man from Worthing will fancy his chances after a comprehensive 7&6 victory over Walker Cup player Rhys Pugh in round three and beating Tyler Raber - the last American in the draw - 2&1 in round four.

There is a lot riding on Tree, however, as no Englishman has won the Amateur Championship since Gary Wolstenholme's victory at Troon nine years ago.

Ferrier is through to the last eight after defeating Italian Lorenzo Scotto at the 19th hole in round four. He plays Australian Matthew Stieger - who defeated compatriot Daniel Nisbet in round four - in the quarter-finals.

Dunbar, who won two out of his three matches in the 2011 Walker Cup, defeated reigning Scottish Stroke Play champion Paul Barjon of France by two holes in round four. He takes on Sweden's Robert Karlsson, the highest ranked amateur left in the draw (23).

The last quarter final will be contested between Spaniard Jacobo Pastor and Austrain Mathias Schwab.

Quarter-final draw:

Jack McDonald (SCO) v. Toby Tree (ENG)

Paul Ferrier (SCO) v. Matthew Stieger (AUS)

Alan Dunbar (IRE) v. Robert Karlsson (SWE)

Jacobo Pastor (ESP) v. Matthias Schwab (AUT)

Nick Bonfield
Content Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, commissioning and feature writing. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x