NICK Dougherty has qualified for today's matchplay stages of the Amateur Championship after a brilliant 77 in the biting winds at Royal County Down yesterday.

The 17-year-old Shaw Hill ace came through one of the toughest rounds of his life to book his place in the last 64 with a 36-hole total of 147.

He faced Mark Hilton of East Sussex in today's matchplay stages.

The swirling winds which whipped off the sea surrounding the Royal County Down course, Northern Ireland, wrecked a host of score-cards yesterday.

Competitors from as-far-a-field as America, Australia, Kenya and Columbia simply failed to cope with the elements.

Dougherty stood firm, though, and after a round of 70 on the first day, his valiant six-over-par 77 yesterday was good enough to see him through.

"That was the toughest course I've ever come across," said Dougherty.

"I was playing well but it was a battle all the way, especially on the first nine when the wind was often moving the ball about the greens. But it was disappointing to bogey the last two holes."

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