Rory McIlroy is through to the last 16 of the Radisson-SAS West of Ireland Championship thanks to a 3 & 2 victory over Galway's Eddie McCormack in the second round at Rosses Point.
The 17-year-old from Holywood is now just four wins away from matching Joe Carr's feat of 1962 and winning the West three years in succession.
McIlroy will face Rory Leonard of Banbridge in the third round at 8.30 on Monday morning following Leonard's 2 & 1 win over Tommy Walsh of Claremorris.
The matchplay stages of the event got under way this morning.
McIlroy recorded a 2 & 1 win over Portmarnock's David Kelleher. The teenager was five-under-par for the 17 holes played.
One of the biggest surprises of the first round was a 20th hole defeat for international Niall Kearney of Royal Dublin, the victim of a great short game display by 17-year-old Strandhill schoolboy Tommy McGowan.
Elsewhere, the leading qualifier Simon Ward of Co Louth had a 4 & 3 win over Alan Condren of Greystones.
Darren Crowe of Dunmurry was a 2 & 1 winner over Birr's Stephen Grant and Shane Lowry of Esker Hills, joint second in the qualifying, was a 6 & 5 winner over David Kneafsey of Sudbury.
