On a dramatic day of last-32 and last-16 ties on the fast-running links, Maguire maintained his title hopes with a notable win. After bunker troubles at the 17th looked to have ended his hopes, the 22-year-old battled back from the brink of defeat to prevail at the fifth extra hole. Maguire, a semi-finalist at Royal Lytham & St Annes 12 months ago, has continued the form that saw him win the St Andrews Links Trophy recently.

Estonian teenager Richard Teder continued his dream week at Hillside to reach the last-eight. The 18-year-old, who had earlier knocked out last year’s semi-finalist and the top-ranked Great Britain and Ireland player John Gough by one hole, came through a high-quality match with American Tommy Morrison. The pair shared ten birdies in the opening 11 holes of their last-16 tussle before Teder finally edged out the Texan at the first extra hole.

South African Christo Lamprecht, the highest-ranked player in the field, maintained his form to reach the quarterfinals. The 22-year-old, sixth on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and recently a competitor in the Arnold Palmer Cup, came through 2&1 against Sweden’s Adam Wallin as he aims to follow in the footsteps of last year’s winner from South Africa, Aldrich Potgieter.

England’s Frank Kennedy holed his second shot at the 14th for an eagle en route to his narrow last-16 win over Irishman Marc Boucher. The 17-year-old, who won the Lytham Trophy in April, boosted hopes of a home win by edging through on the 18th thanks to also recording five birdies.

Switzerland’s Max Schliesing was the first player to secure his place in Friday’s matches, defeating Wales’ Caolan Burford 3&2 after two birdies in the opening five holes.

His compatriot, Ronan Kleu, is also into the last-eight as both aim to become the first Swiss player to claim The Amateur title. Kleu, who finished in a tie for second in stroke play qualifying, achieved a comfortable 5&3 win over Frenchman Clement Charmasson.

Thailand’s TK Chantananuwat – the 16-year-old who was runner-up in the R&A Junior Open last summer – also shone in England’s north-west. After beating Ireland’s Caolan Rafferty 2&1 in the morning, he progressed to the quarterfinals with a 3&2 success over England’s William Hopkins.

Tobias Jonsson from Sweden is into the last-eight after ousting Joshua Greer 2&1. Greer had earlier won an all-Australian meeting against Jasper Stubbs and was aiming to emulate compatriot Bryden Macpherson, the last winner of The Amateur at Hillside in 2011, but birdies at the 12th and 14th helped Jonsson through.

The winner of Saturday’s 36-hole Final will secure exemptions into The 151st Open at Royal Liverpool next month, the U.S Open, and, by tradition, an invitation to play in the Masters Tournament. Notable previous winners of The Amateur include Bobby Jones, Sir Michael Bonallack, Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia.