Golf championship reaches final 16

Andrew Challenor finally had something to smile about on Saturday as he qualified for the final 16 of the Grant Thornton Isle of Man Golf Championship.

Challenor had last weekend twice established himself as the qualifying leader only for the weather to lead to play being cancelled on both occasions.

However, the Castletown player was not to be denied at a much brighter Rowany at Port Erin on Saturday, topping the leaderboard with Kevin Moore and Paul Lowey (pictured) on 136.

Also through to the last 16 of the tournament are 16 year-old Tom Gandy, Mark Sutton, who won his sole Island title to date at Rowany six years ago, Nigel Kennish and Jonathon Corke.

Former champion Davy Jones and twice former champion Paul McMullan both made it through on 140 and 141 respectively.

There were all new qualifiers on 142 in Michael Curphey, Gerald Bradley and Daryl Collister, while David Price, Steven Skillicorn, eight-times champion Julian Sutton and Chris Kneen completed the final 16 on 143 each.

Defending champion Brian Rae and last year's finalist Brian Duggan were among those who missed out.

Just missing out on 144 were Jay Wood, Gary Ashe, Richard Skillicorn and Terry Moore.

Saturday results:
136 Kevin Moore, Andrew Challenor, Paul Lowey
138 Nigel Kennish, Jonathon Corke, Tom Gandy, Mark Sutton
140 Davy Jones
141 Paul McMullan
142 Michael Curphey Gerald Bradley, Daryl Collister
143 David Price, Steven Skillicorn, Julian Sutton and Chris Kneen

The sixteen qualifiers will move forward to next week's matchplay rounds which start on Tuesday at 4.30pm with matches beginning at ten minute intervals:

Kevin Moore v Gerald Bradley
Michael Curphey v Nigel Kennish
Paul McMullan v Daryl Collister
Tom Gandy v Julian Sutton
Paul Lowey v Chris Kneen
Jonathon Corke v David Price
Davy Jones v Mark Sutton
Andrew Challenor v Steven Skillicorn