Paul Lawrie Match Play: Day two report

Sweden’s Alex Noren is looking to make it two wins on Scottish soil in 2016. The Scottish Open champion is into the quarter finals of the Paul Lawrie Match Play at Archerfield in East Lothian.

Following his victory at Castle Stuart last month, Alex Noren is now favourite to take victory in the Paul Lawrie Match Play at Archerfield, having made it to Saturday’s quarter finals.

Noren saw off Renato Paratore of Italy in the second round and then took out Spain’s Nacho Elvira in round three at Archerfield in East Lothian. Noren will now face fellow Swede Johan Carlsson in the last eight.

“I love these kind of courses and links golf. I came here with a good attitude to enjoy the course and to enjoy match play golf as we don’t play it too often,” he said. “It's obviously really nice to be back in Scotland so soon after winning the Scottish Open because when you have had a recent win it can help the confidence when it gets a little tight. You know you have won recently and have the confidence to know you can perform under pressure.”

Tournament host Paul Lawrie narrowly lost his second round match to Richard Green but the Australian couldn’t get past England’s Anthony Wall in round three. Wall came through that one on the first extra hole. He will now face Hayden Porteous in the quarter finals – the South African defeated Scotland’s Marc Warren in round three.

The other two quarter finals will be contested between Max Kieffer (who defeated Miko Ilonen and Daniel Brooks) and Oliver Fisher (winner over Simon Khan and Richie Ramsay); while James Morrison defeated Graeme Storm and Michael Hoey to set up a last eight battle with Alejandro Cañizares after the Spaniard took down countryman Eduardo De La Riva before dispatching Ryder Cup hopeful Matt Fitzpatrick in round three.

Matt Fitzpatrick on life on Tour:

Number one seed Chris Wood, another player who looks likely to represent Europe at Hazeltine in September, also made an early exit – going down 2&1 to Brooks in round two.

Round two results Marc Warren (SCO) bt Magnus Carlsson (SWE) 3 & 2 Haydn Porteous (RSA) bt David Horsey (ENG) 3 & 2 Michael Hoey (NIR) bt Matthew Southgate (ENG) 2 & 1 James Morrison (ENG) bt Graeme Storm (ENG) 4 & 3 Richie Ramsay (SCO) bt Roope Kakko (FIN) 2 UP Oliver Fisher (ENG) bt Simon Khan (ENG) 2 & 1 Chris Paisley (ENG) bt Prom Meesawat (THA) 1 UP Johan Carlsson (SWE) bt Robert Rock (ENG) 2 & 1 Anthony Wall (ENG) bt Richard Bland (ENG) 6 & 4 Richard Green (AUS) bt Paul Lawrie (SCO) 19th hole Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) bt Matt Ford (ENG) 6 & 5 Alejandro Canizares (ESP) bt Eduardo De La Riva (ESP) 4 & 3 Daniel Brooks (ENG) bt Chris Wood (ENG) 2 & 1 Maximilian Kieffer (GER) bt Mikko Ilonen (FIN) 2 UP Alex Noren (SWE) bt Renato Paratore (ITA) 4 & 3 Nacho Elvira (ESP) bt Craig Lee (SCO) 20th hole

Round three results Hayden Porteous (RSA) bt Marc Warren (SCO) 1 UP James Morrison (ENG) bt Michael Hoey (NIR) 4 & 3 Oliver Fisher (ENG) bt Richie Ramsay (SCO) 3 & 1 Johan Carlsson (SWE) bt Chris Paisley (ENG) 4 & 3 Anthony Wall (ENG) bt Richard Green (AUS) 19th hole Alejandro Cañizares (ESP) bt Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 4 & 3 Maximilian Kieffer (GER) bt Daniel Brooks (ENG) 2 & 1 Alex Noren (SWE) bt Nacho Elvira (ESP) 2 & 1