Alan Dunbar, who will play in next week’s Irish Open, has reached the quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship at Royal Troon.Rathmore’s Alan Dunbar will face Sweden’s Robert Karlsson in today’s quarter-finals of the Amateur Championship at Royal Troon.

The Portrush native thrashed Denmark’s Patrick Winther 7 and 6 in the third round before sealing a two hole win over Paul Barjon of France to remain on course to emulate Brian McElhinney, who was the last Irish winner of the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale in 2005.

Florida based Kevin Phelan lost on the 19th to Italy’s Lorenzon Scotto in the morning but while Headfort’s Rory McNamara had a superb 4 and 3 win over Germany Stephen Jaeger, he lost to Kilmarnock’s Jack McDonald by one hole in the afternoon.

Dunbar will face the winner of quarter-final between Australias Matthew Stieger and Baberton’s Paul Ferrier while at the bottom half of the draw Spain’s Jacobo Pastor takeson Austria’s Matthias Schwab as McDonald takes on Worthing’s Toby Tree. Scores

Six Irishmen have won the Amateur Championship with McElhinney (2005) following in the footsteps of Michael Hoey (2001), Garth McGimpsey (1985), Joey Car (1953, 1958, 1960), Sam McCready (1949) and Jimmy Bruen (1946),