Ryan Evans

LINCOLNSHIRE, England (July 30, 2014) -- Despite not feeling on top form, Ryan Evans confirmed his favouritism by marching into the second round of the English Amateur at Saunton with a 4 and 3 victory over Devon’s own Harrison Greenberry.

But Evan’s England team-mate Ashley Chesters was forced to pull out through illness without striking a ball in anger.

“We are staying together and it must have been something we ate,” said Evans. “My stomach doesn’t feel great but Ashley has been ill throughout the night and wasn’t fit to play.”

Turning to his match, Evans added: “I holed out better today but I was still a little iffy on the greens,” he said. “I’m not feeling 100 per cent but I was around four under through the 15 holes.”

Evans (image copyright Leaderboard Photography) was only 1-up through ten holes but when Greenberry bogeyed the 12th and Evans birdied the 13th and 15th the match was over.

Chesters withdrawal meant a walkover for Oscar Granstrom-Livesey while Evans will now meet Tom Gandy, who put out Evans’ England team-mate Paul Howard 2 and 1. There was little separating the pair through ten holes but Gandy, from the Isle of Man, won three holes in-a-row from the 15th to seal victory.

“Neither of us played that well but Paul unfortunately lost a couple of balls near the end,” said Gandy. “I won the 15th with a birdie, Paul conceded 16 when he lost his ball and I won 17 with a par when Paul missed the green.”

West Country hopes were given a lift by Harry Hall and Jordan Smith, who both booked their places in round two after 3 and 2 wins.

Hall, who qualified fourth, celebrated his England call-up for next week’s Boys Home Internationals by overcoming Ben Brewster. Playing his first English Amateur having finished fifth in last week’s Carris Trophy, Hall laid the foundation for his victory with birdies at the fifth and sixth.

“Playing for England in the Boys Home Internationals was one of my goals for the year,” said Hall.

Smith, a semi-finalist at Silloth-on-Solway in 2012 and beaten by eventually winner Callum Shinkwin on the 20th at Frilford Heath last year, was involved in a see-saw tussle with Lancashire’s Ian Kenwright.

Although Kenwright won the opening hole, Smith won the next three and after the remaining front nine holes were swapped, they reached the turn with Smith 2-up. The Wiltshire man won the 12th and although he lost 15, a chip-in on the next saw him through.

Another international, Nick Marsh ran up the biggest winning margin of the day, 7 and 6 over boy squad member Billy Spooner. The Yorkshireman, who shot 66, the low round of the week, in the second qualifying round, continued in the same vein being 4-up through the first eight holes.

He also won the ninth, tenth and 12th to wrap up his win saying: “I didn’t hit it as close as yesterday but Billy had two unplayable lies.”

One of the matches that went to the 18th green saw Hampshire’s Scott Gregory edge out Thomas Rowland from Northumberland. The first two holes were shared but Rowland looked to have a grip on the match when he went 2-up through ten holes

But Gregory won the 14th with a birdie and 15 with a par to level the contest again but when Gregory birdied the last, Rowland failed to match it and they shook hands. “This is the first time I’ve reached the match play and I’m pleased to be through. Last year I didn’t even qualify,” said Gregory.

Toby Tree, another international, eased through with a 5 and 4 win over boy cap Robert Burlison while Harry Ellis, the only former winner in the event, beat Andrew Wilson on the 18th green.