Josh Bristow bowed out of the Men’s English Amateur Championship in the first of the knockout rounds.

Canterbury Golf Club champion Bristow was beaten 2&1 by Tom Stagg (Salisbury and South Wilts GC) on Thursday.

Bristow shot a two-under-par 71 on Woodhall Spa's long, tough Hotchkin course, rated the 54th hardest course in the world last Tuesday.

He followed that up with a two-over-par 74 on the Bracken course the following day, to qualify for the matchplay stages in 22nd place out of a starting field of 222.

Back on the Hotchkin course on Thursday, for the first matchplay round, Bristow lost a high quality match when he three putted to lose the 15th before Stagg hit him with another birdie to win the match at the par-four 17th.

He said: ''I made two mistakes with the putter. I had a three putt at the first and a three putt at the 15th, which cost me.

''There were 11 birdies between us and from the fourth to the 10th each hole was won or halved with birdies.

''Despite it being a great game these losses hurt just as much, if not more. I'm gutted but it will motivate me to improve and take on the next event.''

Next on the calendar for Bristow is the highly prestigious Brabazon Trophy, the Men's English Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship, at Sherwood Forest GC from August 18-21.

A week later comes the biggest test in amateur golf, the Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale, a regular Open Championship venue.

Read more on sport in Kent