Pre-tournament favourite Rob Brown was bundled out of the Bury Championship Vardon Trophy over his home course Breightmet last night (Monday) when he was beaten four and three in the first round by Lowes Park's Matthew Thornton.

Lancashire player Ashley Siddle, from Rossendale, eased through three and two against Breightmet's Chris Ainsworth, whose clubmate Warren Laverty, the leading qualifier, was dispatched by two holes by Harwood's Paul Smethurst.

That left Sean Owen the only survivor from the host club as he beat fellow member Steve Hare five and four.

Owen meets Smethurst and Siddle faces Thornton in tonight's semi-finals.