PAR became appreciably less important in the beat of matchplay battle at Royal Co Down yesterday, when the Irish Close Championship field was reduced to 16.

So, there was a certain irony in the contrasting fortunes of Stephens Browne and Michael McGinley, whose prospects had been based largely on strokeplay exploits.

McGinley, the leading qualifier, for this Bank of Ireland sponsored event, was among several top challengers to depart the scene. But, Browne, who entered at the 11th hour on the strength of two course records over the previous three days, made impressive progress, beating international Richard Coughlan in the second round.

Indeed the vagaries of matchplay were illustrated perfectly by the fate of former Ulster interprovincial Ciaran Fitzsimons. One over par, morning and afternoon, Fitzsimon won his first round match by 6 and, 5 but lost by the same margin to Peter Lawrie in the afternoon.

It was a glorious golfing day, with a gentle breeze from the Mournes, brushing this splendid links. And there was no shortage of spectacle, the most dramatic being a hole in one by Gerry McAleese at the short seventh. Then came the remarkable resilience of another Ulsterman, David Gibson.

Three, up with three to play against international Bryan Omelia, the 34 year old from Downpatrick, was taken to tie holes when his opponent holed from 30 feet for a winning birdie at the 18th. Down the 20th, however, Omelia squandered a psychological edge by badly blocking his drive and then reaching a bunker in two. Gibson clinched victory with a bogey.

John Morris was another current international to join the casualty list and recently crowned South of Ireland champion, Adrian Morrow, seemed to be heading in the same direction. Youth international, Paul Byrne of Nenagh, got a first round walk over when Barry Reddan was forced to withdraw after five holes with a damaged back. And he then took Morrow to the 21st, only to lose his chance by three putting.

The top of the draw produced an intriguing pairing for this morning's third round in which former champion Garth McGimpsey faces his former foursomes partner Neil Anderson, who had a notable 3 and 2 win over former local international, Hug Smyth. Remarkably, McGimpsey and Anderson have never met in matchplay.

McGinley lost a tight match to James Kane Nash and after he had squared at the 14th, Kane Nash established, a winning lead two holes later, chipping to eight feet for a birdie at the 16th. Meanwhile, East of Ireland champion, Noel Fox, was one under par for the 32 holes he needed while making predictable progress.

Browne, who beat Coughlan 5 and 3, said: "My game was so bad that I didn't intend to play in the Close. But I had a course record 67 at Mullingar last Monday and then another course record 67 in competition on my home course, Hermitage, on Wednesday. That made me change my mind."

So two days before the start of the championship, Browne's entry was accepted, not least for the fact that his handicap had come down from one to scratch.

After reducing the 431 yard ninth to a drive, eight iron and 15 foot putt for a winning birdie, Browne turned two up. And poor putting from Coughlan allowed him to win the next two holes in par figures, opening up what proved to be an unassailable lead.

The departure of some of his international colleagues appeared to enhance Jody Fanagan's of adding this title to his South of Ireland success of last year. But the Milltown player complained of physical and mental tiredness after being taken to the 18th in the after noon by Peter Sheehan.

Fanagan's struggle certainly required some explanation, given that he seemed to be coasting, while, three up at the turn against the former South of Ireland champion. Indeed he looked certain to extend that lead at the short 10th where he was on the green while Sheehan was between bunkers, short right. Three putts, however, forced Fanagan to settle for a half in bogey.

Still he remained three up with four to play. Then came two, double bogeys, at the 15th where he pulled his drive into heavy rough on the left and at the 17th where a six iron approach was plugged in a greenside trap.