Crosland rattles champ

MICK MARLEY knows he will need to perform better if he is to retain his island title. He duly claimed his place in this evening's quarter-finals, but against the plucky and unseeded Peter Crosland he struggled to win 2 and 1.

Marley had headed to the 12th four up and looking comfortable, but then the tide turned as Crosland won that hole and the next.

'Peter's 20-footer across the green for birdie got to me, especially after I had spun my second in to only four feet,' said the champion later.

'I missed my putt and all but gave him the next two holes.'

That meant Marley had lost four holes in a row and the match was all square with three to play. The crowd sensed a shock.

But at the 16th and after going through the green in two, Crosland's chip back deserved better than the resulting bogey and Marley was gifted the win with par.

With the driver in hand at 17 Marley went for the kill and put his 300-yard tee shot just off the back of the green.

Crosland drove into trouble meaning the defending champion did not need to hit another shot and was through to play island team-mate and his best man, Nigel Vaudin.

Like Bobby Eggo against veteran Ken Giles, Vaudin drew out his match to the 16th green against George Melhuish.

But the three Davids left in the competition - Nicolle, Warr and Rowlinson - hardly had to break sweat.

Nicolle did not give Mike Hamon a hope as the 'quiet man' turned on the style and will be looking to repeat his four-under through 13-hole performance come tonight's quarter-final against tournament favourite Bobby Eggo.

Luke Blondel's slow start through the first four holes gifted Rowlinson a three-up lead that he was never going to relinquish and likewise Warr dominated his match against Niall Counihan.

Steve Mahy, meanwhile, toppled his second King in successive nights, the latest being L'Ancresse's Mick King.

The pair shook hands on the 15th green and Mahy will face Rowlinson in the quarters.

The tightest third round rmatch saw Andy Eggo scrape past Danny Blondel on the last.

Neither player enjoyed more than a hole advantage all round and at the 14th Eggo must have thought he was about to regain a one-up lead heading into the home straight.

Blondel was facing a 30ft putt across the green for the half in par, but his new putter did the trick and he saved the hole.

His putter then went cold. The youngster missed excellent 10ft birdie and win opportunities at the 15th and 17th holes.

They were still level playing the par three last, but a beautiful seven iron by Eggo landed 12ft over the pin and with Blondel coming up short up short the number two seed rolled home the putt for birdie.